Lot 3224. A large blue and white inscribed double-gourd vase, Jiajing six-character mark in underglaze blue and of the period (1522-1566); 18 3/4 in. (47.2 cm.) high. Estimate HKD 1,000,000 - HKD 1,500,000. Price realised HKD 1,120,000. © Christie's Image Ltd 2015

The vase is well painted in rich purplish-blue tones on both globular sections with cranes flying above waves breaking on rocky cliffs and lingzhi amidst cloud scrolls, all below characters within roundels alternating with peaches. The upper and lower lobes are divided by a continuous band of scrolling foliage bearing lingzhi and peach, which is repeated around the foot. The cylindrical neck is decorated with overlapping upright leaves, box.

Provenance: Sold at Christie's London, 20 June 1984, lot 308
Florida private collection, sold at Christie's New York, 2 December 1989, lot 290
Sold at Christie's Hong Kong, 27 October 2003, lot 620.

Exhibited: Barlow Collection, Sussex University, England.

Note: The characters on the upper bulb read Fengtiao Yushun, 'Soft wind and gentle rain', and on the lower bulb, Guotai Minan, 'May the country prosper and the people enjoy peace'.

Compare three other very similar double-gourd vases: the first illustrated by J. Ayers, The Baur Collection, Geneva, 1974, vol. 2, fig. A157; the second at the Princesschof Leeuwarden, illustrated by N. Ottema, Chinesche Ceramik Handboek, Amsterdam, 1946, pl. 134; and the last one sold at Christie's New York, 5 June 1986, lot 290.

CHRISTIE'S. THE IMPERIAL SALE & IMPORTANT CHINESE CERAMICS AND WORKS OF ART, 3 June 2015, Convention Hall