A LARGE BLUE-GLAZED BOTTLE VASE SEAL MARK AND PERIOD OF QIANLONG

of slender ovoid form, with a pear-shaped body rising from a slightly splayed foot to tall tubular neck, covered overall with a deep blue glaze of vibrant purplish colour finely suffused on the surface with a light 'orange peel' effect, the glaze slightly draining to white at the mouth rim and stopping neatly above the footring, the interior and the base left white, the base further inscribed in underglaze blue with a six-character seal mark

Sotheby's London, 29^th March 1977, lot 284.
Sotheby's Hong Kong, 8th November 1982, lot 270.

There is a 6 cm hairline crack extending onto the interior of the rim, and visible on approx 4.5 cm on the exterior. Otherwise the vase is in good condition. The actual colour is quite close to the catalogue illustration.
"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 taller vase was sold twice in these rooms, 28^th November 1978, lot 138, and 17^th May 1988, lot 94. A vase of this type, also bearing a Qianlong seal mark and of the period, from the Walker Art Gallery, now in the Merseyside County Museums, is illustrated in Nigel Wood, Precious Vessels, Liverpool, 1980, pl. 139; and another from the collection of ‘Chinese Gordon’ (Gordon of Khartoum), is illustrated in W. G. Gulland, Chinese Porcelain, vol. II, London, 1911, pl. 734.