A RARE DOUCAI MING-STYLE JAR QING DYNASTY, CHENGHUA MARK, KANGXI PERIOD |

the compressed globular body rising from a recessed base to a short straight neck, brightly enamelled around the exterior with leafy camellia sprays issuing from three jagged rocks, divided by smaller sprays and butterflies, above flowering chrysanthemum branches and a band of underglaze-blue rockwork with grass, the base with an apocryphal six-character Chenghua mark within a double circle in underglaze blue

A European private collection.
Sotheby's London, 10th May 2017, lot 222 (one of a pair).

Apart from two insignificant star cracks (the larger measuring approx. 2.1cm), only visible to the interior under UV light, the jar is in good overall condition with just minor surface wear to the exterior.
"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 design on the current jar is inspired by the Chenghua prototype, and is very close in shape and decoration. See a jar, but without cover, with a Chenghua reign mark and of the period, from the Sir Percival David collection, now in the British Museum, London, illustrated in Regina Krahl and Jessica Harrison-Hall, Chinese Ceramics. Highlights from the Sir Percival David Collection, London, 2009, pl. 38. A closely related jar, from the collection of Baroness V. von Lossberg, was sold in our London rooms, 25th March 1975, lot 276; one was sold in these rooms, 5th November 1997, lot 1500; another was sold at Christie's London, 13th January 1987, lot 486; and a pair with covers was sold in these rooms, 11th April 2008, lot 2903. See also a covered jar, also attributed to the Kangxi reign, in the Palace Museum, Beijing, illustrated in The Complete Collection of Treasures of the Palace Museum. Porcelains in Polychrome and Contrasting Colours, Hong Kong, 1999, pl. 211, together with one attributed to the Yongzheng period, pl. 232; and another in the National Palace Museum, Taipei, included in the Museum's exhibition Ming Chenghua ciqi tezhan [Special exhibition of Chenghua porcelain], Taipei, 1976, cat. no. 164.