Lot 3320. A rare blue and white 'phoenix and cranes' vase, Jiajing six-character mark in underglazed blue in a line and of the period (1522-1566). Estimate HK$1,500,000 – HK$2,600,000 ($194,006 - $336,276). Photo Christie's Image Ltd 2016.

The vase is finely potted with a slightly compressed globular body and applied to both sides of the neck with lion-mask loop handles hanging loose rings. The body is painted in attractive vibrant tones of cobalt blue with alternating pairs of phoenix and cranes, flying amidst wispy clouds. The neck is decorated with the trigram below a band of interlinkingruyi and demi-florettes. 6 1/2 in. (16.5 cm.) high, box

Note: A nearly identical example from the Qing Court Collection is in the Palace Museum, Beijing, is illustrated in Blue and White Porcelain with Underglazed Red (II), The Complete Collection of Treasures of the Palace Museum, Hong Kong, 2000, p. 96, no. 89 (fig. 1).

fig. 1. A blue and white 'phoenix and cranes' vase, Jiajing six-character mark in underglazed blue in a line and of the period (1522-1566). Collection of the Palace Museum, Beijing.

Christie's. THE IMPERIAL SALE / IMPORTANT CHINESE CERAMICS & WORKS OF ART, 1 June 2016, Convention Hall