A FINE AND EXTREMELY RARE CARVED CELADON-GLAZED BOTTLE VASE SEAL MARK AND PERIOD OF QIANLONG

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well potted with a globular body sweeping up to a slender neck flaring at the mouth, all supported on a slightly splayed foot, finely carved around the body with a wide register of pairs of confronting and addorsed archaistic kui dragons, their bodies dissolving into 'hooks and volutes', below rows of pendent plantain lappets, key-fret and a narrow register of confronting kui dragons, the neck collared by plantain blade leaves, pendent ruyi heads and further abstract dragons encircling the mouth, the foot skirted by lappets and zig-zags, all beneath a pale celadon glaze,  inscribed on the base with an underglaze blue six-character reign mark

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."

The present magnificent celadon-glazed vase belongs to a special group of monochrome wares that reflect the Qianlong emperor's fondness for elegantly shaped vessels decorated with deeply carved and bold decoration, often in the archaistic style. The carving on this vase is especially fine; the artist has successfully achieved a contrast in the colour tone, as if two shades of the same colour are used. The motif is elaborate and displays the high level of quality achieved in the Imperial kilns at Jindezhen, Jiangxi province. Wares belonging to this sophisticated group are associated with the work of Tang Ying, Superintendent at Jingdezhen during Qianlong's reign, who strove for technical and artistic perfection. By this time the art of producing a specific glaze colour was perfected.This was possible only with the greatest precision in handling the raw materials and complete mastery of the firing process.

Although no other similar vase appears to be recorded, the same decorative motif and border design can be found on a celadon-glazed zun form vase with handles illustrated in Kangxi. Yongzheng. Qianlong. Qing Porcelain from the Palace Museum Collection, Hong Kong, 1989, pl. 145. Another Qianlong mark and period globular form vase with a long neck, decorated with archaistic design in the same technique is illustrated in The Tsui Museum of Art - Chinese Ceramics IV, Hong Kong, 1995, pl. 35, and sold at Christie's Hong Kong, 30th October 1995, lot 736A, and again, 27th October 2003, lot 700. Also compare another celadon-glazed Qianlong vase overall carved with an archaistic motif illustrated in John Ayers, Chinese Ceramics in the Baur Collection, vol. 2, Geneva, 1999, pl. 290.

A further example with a Qianlong seal mark in relief, was sold in these rooms, 8th April 2007, lot 708; and another bottle form vessel, with a six-character Qianlong seal mark in underglaze-blue on the base was sold in these rooms, 9th October 2007, lot 1522.