Lot 3203. A fine and rare large ru-type vase, fanghu , Qianlong six-character seal mark in underglaze blue and of the period (1736-1795), 16 1/2 in. (42 cm.) high, Japanese wood box. Estimate HKD 1,200,000 - HKD 1,800,000 (USD 154,951 - USD 232,426). © Christie's Images Ltd 2017

The pear shaped body of rectangular section is moulded to the front and back with a slightly raised peach-shape panel, the rounded corners rising from a short straight foot, the neck flanked with two tubular handles, applied overall with a slightly crackled thick unctuous glaze of even pale grey colour with a slightly blue tinge, the neatly cut, unglazed foot ring with a dark purplish-brown dressing.

Provenance: Japanese private collection, Kyoto, acquired from Inouye Ryukodo, Osaka, in the 1930's
Sold at Christie’s Hong Kong, 27 May 2008, lot 1805

Note: It is extremely rare to find vases of this form in such a large size. Compare with three other Ru-type vases of this form but of smaller sizes, one (38.5 cm.) sold at Christie's Hong Kong, 30 May 2006, lot 1364; another one (24.2 cm.) sold at Christie's New York, 24 March 2004, lot 241; and the other of a more typical size (14.8 cm.) sold at Christie's Hong Kong, 27 October 2003, lot 698.

Christie's. The Imperial Sale / Important Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art, 31 May 2017, Convention Hall