A MASSIVE, RARE AND IMPRESSIVE BLUE AND WHITE 'FLORAL' VASE SEAL MARK AND PERIOD OF YONGZHENG |

robustly potted with a baluster body rising from a stepped foot to a tall waisted neck flaring at the rim, the body and neck boldly painted in rich cobalt-blue tones, with meandering leafy scrolls bearing composite floral blooms including lotus, camellia, hibiscus and peony, the shoulder collared by stylised floral sprays and key-fret bands between lappet bands enclosing lotus blooms, all below a band of scrolling lingzhi and a ruyi-shaped lappet band enclosing floral sprays at the rim, the foot encircled by a band of tumultuous waves above stylised floral sprays, inscribed to the base with a six-character seal mark

Overall good condition with some original firing imperfections, including a firing crack to the exterior base, a minor Y-shaped glaze crackle from the foot and minor fritting to the mouthrim.
"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 is among the largest porcelain vases produced by the imperial kiln of the Yongzheng reign, and appears to be unique, although a similar example of slightly different scroll pattern was sold in these rooms, 29th November 1977, lot 201 (fig. 1). One similar vase decorated with flower scrolls supporting the Eight Buddhist Emblems in the Palace Museum, Beijing, is illustrated in The Complete Collection of Treasures of the Palace Museum, Blue and White Porcelain with Underglazed Red (III), Shanghai, 2000, no. 88; and another with fruit spray, is illustrated in Blue and White Ware of the Ch'ing Dynasty, National Palace Museum, Taipei, 1968, vol. I, p. 68, pl. 2-2d.See also two examples decorated with dragons amidst a composite floral meander, one from the Palace Museum, Beijing, and illustrated in The Complete Collection of Treasures of the Palace Museum, Blue and White Porcelain with Underglazed Red (III), op. cit., no. 89 (fig. 2), and another from the Yi Tak Tang collection, included in The Grandeur of Chinese Art Treasures: Min Chiu Society Golden Jubilee Exhibition, Hong Kong, 2010-2011, cat. no. 169.