A fine and rare 'ru'-type vase Seal mark and period of Qianlong

modelled after an archaic bronze hu vessel, the pear-shaped body gracefully rising to a tall cylindrical neck with a slightly thicker lip around the mouth, flanked by a pair of angular lug handles terminating in a mock ruyi head tassel, covered overall in an even a pale caesious coloured glaze suffused with a fine network of crackles throughout, the underside inscribed in underglaze blue with a six-character reign mark

Christie's Hong Kong, 1st November 2004, lot 804.

The overall condition is very good.
"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."

This vase was made to imitate the most celebrated and rarest ceramic ware of China, 'Ru' ware from Henan province, which was the official ware of the Northern Song court (960-1127). Since its inception the, 'Ru' glazes have been much admired by Chinese connoisseurs, and were continuously copied. Their unobtrusive pale blue-green colour with an attractive faint crackle reminded connoisseurs of fine jade, and the imitation of the revered glaze became even more popular at court in the 18^th century under the Yongzheng and Qianlong emperors.

A closely related vase was sold in these rooms, 20^th November 1985, lot 213; and another was sold in our new York rooms, 4^th November 1978, lot 30. Compare two smaller Qianlong 'ru'-type vases of similar form but with more rounded handles, sold in these rooms, one from the Goldschmidt collection, sold 13^th November 1990, lot 73, and the other from the T. Y. Chao collection, sold 18^th November 1986, lot 90. See also vases of the same form but covered in teadust glaze; such as one in the Tokyo National Museum, published in Oriental Ceramics. The World's Great Collections, vol. 1, Tokyo, 1982, pl. 293; and another in the Baur collection, illustrated in John Ayers, Chinese Ceramics in the Baur Collection, vol. 2, Geneva, 1999, pl. 296.

The form of the current vase also reflects archaistic interests, as the shape may derive from the tall pear-shaped bronze hu of the Shang dynasty. In China copying was always considered a virtue as it challenged craftsmen to equal the masters of the past.