A FLAMBE-GLAZED VASE, FANGHU QIANLONG SEAL MARK AND PERIOD

of archaic bronze form, the pear-shaped body of rectangular section rising from a gently spreading foot to a quatrefoil rim, set at the shoulder with a pair of square lug handles and moulded to the front and back with a raised peach-form panel, covered overall with a lustrous glaze of violet-purple tone with broad creamy lavender streaks, thinning to a buff colour at the rim and along the edges, the base incised with a six-character seal mark and further applied with a greyish glaze with russet patches

This brightly glazed vase has a 3.5cm., wide bruise to the rim, a hairline rim crack (extending 2cm., internally, 3cm., externally), a 6cm., hairline firing glaze line to the base and the footring has been polished and reduced in height.
"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 closely related vase is illustrated in Chinese Ceramics IV. Qing Dynasty, The Tsui Museum of Art, Hong Kong, 1995, pl. 47; one is published in J.J. Marquet de Vasselot, The Louvre Museum. Chinese Ceramics. K’ang Hsi Period to our Days, Paris, 1922, pl. 35; and two examples were sold in our Hong Kong rooms, the first, 26^th October 1993, lot 99, and the second, of slightly larger size, 11^thApril 2008, lot 2973.

Vases of this type derive from wares of the Song dynasty (960-1279) and demonstrate the craftsmanship of Qing potters in their ability to imitate shapes and glazes and developing them to suit the contemporary aesthetic. Flambé glazes derive from Jun wares, a glaze that was first revived by the Yongzheng emperor and which remained popular throughout the Qing dynasty. The shape is an interpretation of facetted and pear-shape guan vases, which in turn were inspired by the archaic bronze ritual vessel, hu.