Lot 3102. A rare clair-de-lune-glazed archaistic vessel, jue, Seal mark and period of Qianlong (1736-1795); 11.8 cm, 4 5/8  in. Estimate 500,000 — 700,000 HKD. Lot sold 562,500 HKD. Courtesy Sotheby's

in the form of an archaic bronze tripod wine vessel, the U-shaped body rising from three tall splayed fluted legs to a widely flared rim, surmounted by a pair of capped finials, applied to one side with a loop handle, covered overall in a pale sea-green tone, the base inscribed with a four-character seal mark.

Provenance: Robert Chang, Hong Kong.
A Far Eastern private collection.
Sotheby's London, 6th November 2013, lot 159.

Exhibited: Chinese Ceramics Tang to Qing, Marchant, London, 2014, cat. no. 49.

Note: Qianlong reign-marked vessels of jue form are rare. For an aubergine-glazed jue of this type with similar Qianlong reign mark, see one in the Baur Collection, illustrated in John Ayers, The Baur Collection, Geneva. Chinese Ceramics, vol. 2, Geneva, 1969, pl. A473; and another from the Jingguantang collection, sold at Christie's Hong Kong, 27th May 2008, lot 1801.