Lot 3812. A rare Longquan celadon pear-shaped vase, Yuan dynasty, 14th century, 10 1/4 in. (26 cm.) high. Estimate HKD 450,000 - HKD 550,000. Price realised HKD 860,000 © Christie's Images Ltd 2011

The pear-shaped body supported on a sturdy footring and surmounted by a trumpet neck flanked by a pair of large ring handles, the neck, shoulder and mid-section encircled by raised double bands, covered overall with an even light olive green glaze, Japanese double wood boxes.

Provenance: Japanese private collection

Exhibited: Gotoh Museum, Tokyo

Note: Vases of this form that are without added decorative features are quite rare and this example, reminiscent of earlier Song dynasty examples, beautifully shows off the luster and colour of the Longquan glaze.

For a vase of this shape, carved with flowers and with more elaborate monster-mask and mock-ring handles, see the example in the National Palace Museum, illustrated in Age of The Great Khan, Pluralism in Chinese Art and Culture Under the Mongols, National Palace Museum, Taipei, 1991, p. 145, pl. IV-42.

Christie's. Important Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art, 1 June 2011, Hong Kong, HKCEC Grand Hall