Lot 3682. A fine 'bronze-imitation' tea-dust glazed and gilt-splashed 'Chilong' bottle vase, Seal mark and period of Qianlong (1736-1795);  15 cm., 5 7/8  in. Estimate 300,000 — 500,000 HKD (68,974 — 91,965 EUR). Lot sold 1,875,000 HKD (215,542 EUR). Photo Sotheby's

of elegant pear shape, with a compressed globular body rising from a short splayed foot to a tall cylindrical neck, covered overall in a gilt-speckled olive-green glaze, save for the mouthrim dressed in a brown slip, applied with a gilt-decorated archaistic chilong curling around the slanted shoulder, finely detailed with sharp fangs and combed mane, its well-defined body terminating in a bifurcated tail sweeping up the slender neck, the base inscribed in gilt with a six-character seal mark.

Note: This vase is unusual for the finely gilded sinuous chilong applied on the shoulders of the vessel. This type of decoration is known on Longquan celadon vases from as early as the 8th century, although it gradually waned during the Ming dynasty and mainly used by potters in Dehua, Fujian province. This motif was revived at the beginning of the Qing dynasty, when sinuous chilong were applied on vases covered in a variety of glazes.

Compare a larger tea-dust glazed vase similarly applied with a chilong, but lacking the mark, illustrated in Qingdai taoci Daquan [An encyclopaedia of Qing porcelain], Taipei, 1989, pl. 99; another of facetted form, in the British Museum, London, published in Soame Jenyns, Later Chinese Porcelain. The Ch’ing Dynasty, London, 1951, pl. CV, no. 2a; and a third but attributed to the 19th century, sold in our New York rooms, 18th September 1996, lot 228.

Sotheby's. Important Chinese Art, Hong Kong, 07 oct. 2015, 02:30 PM