The rectangular body of archaistic form with characteristic circular foot ring and mouth rim, applied with a pair of moulded elephant-heads, each suspending a mock ring-handle, covered in a lustrous, dark violet-blue glaze, thinning to a lighter blue on extremities, wood stand, Japanese wood box.

Provenance: Acquired in Kyoto prior to World War II.

Property of a private Japanese family collection

Note: A Qianlong-marked blue-glazed cong vase of approximately the same size in the National Palace Museum Collection, Taipei, was included in the National Palace Museum Exhibition of Qing Monochromes, Taipei, 1981, Catalogue no. 55. 

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