A fine and very rare Ru-type lobed octogonal tripod bulb bowl. Qianlong seal mark in underglaze blue and of the period  (1736-1795)

Of mallow form, the sides molded as eight petal lobes rising to a conforming rim, and the base of the interior slightly convex, covered overall with an opaque glaze of pale greyish-blue color suffused with a wide clear crackle continuing to the bottom edge of the three cabriole legs to expose the dark brown wash that covers the feet, the underside with nine tiny pseudo spur marks in underglaze blue
8¼ in. (21 cm.) across, box - Estimate: $150,000 - $180,000

Provenance: Formerly in a private Japanese collection.

Notes: The Qing dynasty emperors were avid collectors, and were fascinated by the objects of antiquity. During the 17th and 18th centuries, they commissioned numerous vessels based on forms found on ancient bronzes and on ceramics of the Song dynasty, where the inspiration for the current vessel can be found. For illustrations of two Song dynasty Guanyao octafoil basins of this form, see Kuan Ware of the Southern Sung Dynasty, Book I, Part 2, Hong Kong, 1962, pls. 39, 39a, 40 and 40a. It is interesting to note that very few, if any of the Song dynasty originals, have feet such as those found on the current lot, and that this appears to be an addition unique to the later interpretation of this form.

Compare a footed Yongzheng-marked example of similar lobed octagonal form, also covered in a Guan-type glaze, formerly in the collection of Carl Kempe and now in the Museum of Far Eastern Antiquities, Stockholm, illustrated by B. Gyllensvärd in Oriental Ceramics, The World's Great Collections, vol. 8, Tokyo/New York/San Francisco, 1982, no. 274.

Christie's.  Fine Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art. 17 September 2008. New York, Rockefeller Plaza. www.chrisies.com