A RARE GUAN-TYPE QUADRUPLE VASE SEAL MARK AND PERIOD OF YONGZHENG

finely potted as four vases of slender cylindrical form with sides gently curving to a short neck and everted rim, conjoined at the sides leaving a square-shaped aperture in the centre, the bodies covered overall in a soft pale bluish-grey glaze suffused with a matrix of golden crackles, the four-character reign mark inscribed character by character on the bases

Sotheby's Hong Kong, 22^nd May 1984, lot 185.

The mouths of two vases are slightly restored and overpainted, which are visible on the exterior. There is also a faint glaze crack to the base of the vase with the character nian, but the overall condition of the quadruple vase is otherwise quite 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."

A slightly smaller Yongzheng vase of closely related form and covered in a pale grey Guan-type glaze, with a reign mark and of the period, in the Palace Museum, Beijing, is illustrated in Qingdai yuyao ciqi, vol. 1, pt. II, Beijing, 2005, pl. 149; and a larger example with a Ru-type glaze in the National Palace Museum, Taipei, is included in the Illustrated Catalogue of Ch'ing Dynasty Porcelain. Kang-hsi Ware and Yung-cheng Ware, Tokyo, 1980, pl. 128. See also a similar vase from the James W. and Marilyn Alsdorf collection sold twice at Christie's Hong Kong, 23^rd March 1993, lot 735, and again, 2^nd November 1999, lot 524, from the Robert Chang collection; and a celadon-glazed example from the J.M. Hu collection, sold in our New York rooms, 4^th June 1985, lot 40.

This unusual conjoined vase was first produced during the Yongzheng period and embodies the trend of combining innovation within tradition which characterised imperial objects created during his reign. The simple cylindrical form of the individual vases provide an ideal canvas on which to display the subtle beauty of the glaze that was made to imitate 'Guan' ware, one of the most celebrated ceramic wares of the Southern Song dynasty.