A fine guan-type vase of fanghu form, Qianlong seal mark in underglaze blue and of the period (1736-1795) © Christie's Image 2003

The two broad sides subtly molded with a peach or 'apricot-leaf' panels and the two narrow sides set with rectangular lug handles, covered overall with a crackled glaze of pale grey-blue tone, the foot covered with a dark brown dressing - 16 5/16in. (41.4cm.) high. Lot 348. Estimate $40,000 - $60,000. Price Realized $101,575 

Notes: For the Song prototype of this vase with similar 'apricot leaf' panels and an inscription by the Emperor Qianlong on the base see Illustrated Catalogue of Sung Dynasty Porcelain in the National Palace Museum - Southern Sung Kuan Ware, I (Part I), Hong Kong, 1962, pls. 6, 6a-6b.

This is an unusually large version of Qianlong-marked vases of this type. A smaller (24.4cm. high) example from the collection of H. Garner in the British Museum is illustrated in Oriental Ceramics, The World's Great Collections, vol. 5, Tokyo, 1981, no. 235. 

Christie's. FINE CHINESE CERAMICS AND WORKS OF ART, 18 September 2003, New York, Rockefeller Plaza