A fine and very rare large celadon jar with carved dragons Carved Seal Mark and Period of Qianlong

of baluster form with high shoulders deftly carved with a clamour of chilong dragons and a flock of phoenix, their highly stylised sinuous bodies studded with tiny bosses terminating in bifurcated tails writhing in animated poses around the vessel, all set between a wan symbol diaper collaring the short neck, and upright lotus petals skirting the foot, the glaze of rich olive-green tone pooling in the recesses to accent the carving, the six-character reign mark neatly carved on the underside

A Japanese Private Collection.
Christie's Hong Kong, 30th May 2006, lot 1356.

Min Xin no bijutsu, Osaka Municipal Museum, Osaka, 1982, cat. no. 179.

Apart from a few light surface scratches, the overall condition is fine.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

Vases of this form and decoration are extremely rare although two Qianlong vases of this form and carved decoration were sold in our New York rooms, 5th May 1979, lot 40, and 6th November 1981, lot 306.

Celadon-glazed guan form vessels with a Qianlong reign mark and of the period can also be found with a stoutly potted ovoid shape body and a short waisted neck and lipped mouth, carved overall in varied relief with scaly dragons; for example, see the jar from the Fonthill Heirlooms (no. 643), from the Collections of Lord Margadale of Islay and the Collection formed by Alfred Morrison during the nineteenth century, sold in these rooms, 17th May 1988, lot 75. Compare also a globular-form bottle vase decorated with large five-clawed dragons, in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, included in Oriental Ceramics. The World's Great Collections, vol. 11, Tokyo, 1982, col. pl. 29; and a rounded celadon fishbowl in the Shanghai Museum illustrated in Shanghai Bowuguan cangci xuanji, Shanghai, 1979, pl. 97.