A rare celadon-glazed drum-shaped flower vase, Seal mark and period of Yongzheng | 清雍正 粉青釉鼓式花插 《大清雍正年製》款

Collection of Francis X. Schoonmaker, acquired prior to circa 1887.

Collection of Job Male (1808-1891).

Francis X. Schoonmaker收藏，得於約1887年之前

Job Male (1808-1891) 收藏

Celadon-glazed vessels of this type, with the top pierced with circular apertures, would have been used to hold either incense sticks or flowers. Only a small number of comparable Yongzheng period examples is known, including one in the Zhuyuetang Collection, illustrated in Shimmering Colours: Monochromes of the Yuan to Qing Periods, The Zhuyuetang Collection, Art Museum, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, 2005, cat. no. 78; another from the collection of T.Y. Chao is included in the exhibition Ch'ing Porcelain from the Wah Kwong Collection, Art Museum, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, 2005, cat. no. 18; and a third example was sold at Christie's Hong Kong, 31st March 1992, lot 574.  

The present form and design continued to be produced during the Qing dynasty, although in smaller sizes. Compare a 11.8cm high example from the Qianlong period, sold at Christie's New York, 17th September 2015, lot 2157; and a 6cm high Daoguang period example, sold in our Hong Kong rooms, 23rd May 1979, lot 637. Compare also a gilt-decorated Qianlong mark and period pair, sold in our Hong Kong rooms, 8th April 2011, lot 3081.