Lot 1357. A very rare 'clair-de-lune' glazed 'Three string' vase, laifu zun, Kangxi period (1662-1722); 8 in. (20.3 cm.) high. Estimate HKD 150,000 - HKD 200,000. Price realised HKD 456,000. © Christie's Images Ltd 2006. 

The high-shoulded body tapering elegantly to the foot, the base of the trumpet neck encircled by three bow strings, covered overall in a glaze of soft lavender tone, thinning over the rings and at the lipped rim, the base with mark effaced.

Note: The present shape is better known in the peachbloom-glaze and found amongst a group of scholar's objects that were made in the Kangxi period. Two well-known peachbloom-glazed laifu vases include the example from the collection of Mrs Yale Kneeland, and later sold in these Rooms, 7 July 2003 (Catalogue dated 28th Apri), lot 564; and the other is the 'Morgan vase' after the American collector who paid a lengendary sum in the mid-19th century, and sold it after her death for US$18,000 in 1886.

This shape is also known as the sanxun zun, deriving from the three rings encircling the neck which recall the strings used on Chinese musical instruments. The term laifu zun, 'turnip-shaped vase' is termed by Chinese scholars after the custom of naming porcelain forms after vegetables. 

Christie's. Important Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art, Hong Kong, 30 May 2006