A fine Ming-style blue and white pear-shaped vase, yuhuchunping, Daoguang six-character seal mark and of the period (1821-1850)

Lot 3476. A fine Ming-style blue and white pear-shaped vase, yuhuchunping, Daoguang six-character seal mark and of the period (1821-1850); 11 1/4 in. (28.6 cm.) high. Estimate HKD 700,000 - HKD 900,000. Price realised HKD 875,000. © Christies Image Ltd 2014

The globular body is painted in vivid blue tones in imitation of 'heaping and piling' with plantain and bamboo growing beside rocks on grassy mounds. All below a band of foliate scroll in-between upright leaves and a pendent trefoil collar at the waisted neck. The splayed ring foot with clusters of flower petals surrounding lappets surrounding the base, stand, Japanese wood box.

Provenance: Japanese private collection, Kyoto, acquired in 1970s.

Note: For a 14th century copper-red example with related decoration in the Palace Museum, which may be the earliest prototype of this design, see Sekai Toji Zenshu, 1981, vol. 13, pl. 78. This 'plantain and bamboo' pattern was revived during the Qianlong period and can be seen on a vase included the Special Exhibition of K'ang-hsi, Yung-cheng and Ch'ien-lung Porcelain, National Palace Museum, Taipei, 1968, and illustrated in the Catalogue, no. 72. This type of bottle vase continued to be produced during the reigns of the Jiaqing Emperor, Daoguang (as with the present example), Xianfeng, Tongzhi and Guangxu..

Christie's. The Imperial Sale / Important Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art, Hong Kong, 28 May 2014