Lot 3021. A very rare Longquan celadon cup, jue, Chenghua six-character mark and of the period (1465-1487).  Estimate HKD 250,000 - HKD 350,000 (USD 33,000 - USD 45,000). Price Realised HKD 275,000 (USD 35,468). © Christie's Images Ltd 2011

The body of the vessel supported by a kneeling deer, a bee, and a seated monkey above a flat platform base, the exterior of the oblong receptacle decorated in trailed slip with overall scrollwork dividing a chrysanthemum petal border around the base and a diaper band around the rim, flanked on both sides with biscuit qilong handles, moulded on the base under a thin slip with the mark Chenghua nian longquan zao, 'made at Longquan in the Chenghua period' - 5 in. (12.7 cm.) long, box, stand .  

Provenance: An Important Private Collection of Chinese Celadons and Other Ceramics, sold at Sotheby's Hong Kong, 5 November 1996, lot 642
Previously sold at Christie's Hong Kong, 5-6 November 1997, lot 1097 

Note: Although rare examples of Longquan celadon with Xuande reign marks are known, there appears to be no other piece recorded with Chenghua mark. The present lot with a unique mark is also embedded with puns, the cup form is a jue, deer for lu, bee for feng and monkey for hou, carrying the rebus juelu fenghou, 'May you receive high rank and emolument'. 

Christie's. Important Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art, 30 November 2011, Hong Kong