Lot 434. An extremely rare white-glazed 'Phoenix' jar, Yuan dynasty (1279-1366); 27.5 cm, 10 7/8  in. Estimate 30,000 — 50,000 HKD. Lot sold 325,000 HKD. Photo: Sotheby's

of baluster form, applied in biscuit with a soaring phoenix amidst scrolling clouds, covered overall in a slightly blue-tinged white glaze, the unglazed base and the edges of the phoenix fired to a buff-orange tone.

Provenance: Acquired before 6th June 1995.

Note: No other piece of white-glazed porcelain of the Yuan dynasty decorated with a sprig-moulded biscuit design appears to be recorded. This decorative technique was very popular during the Yuan dynasty both at the Longquan and Jingdezhen kilns and examples of both celadon and white-glazed pieces with applied decoration are illustrated by Sherman Lee and Wai-Kam Ho, Chinese art under the Mongols: The Yuan Dynasty (1279-1368), pls 74-82 and 107-112. But while on celadon pieces the applied decoration was very often left in the biscuit, on white porcelain it was usually glazed. A white jar with an applied prunus branch around the sides, all covered with the transparent glaze, is illustrated in Tianjin Shi Yishu Bowuguan Cang Ci/Porcelains from the Tianjin Municipal Museum, Hong Kong, 1993, pl. 64.