If you are a blue & white lover, you should not miss the “Important Chinese Art” sale at Sotheby’s Hong Kong. Within the four lots with highest estimates, three of them are blue & white. As the blue & white “rosette” moonflask of Yongle period was introduced yesterday, we are going to talk about the remaining two today.

First comes the lot with the highest estimate, a blue & white “dragon” vase of Qianlong period. Its base is inscribed with a six-character Qianlong reign mark in underglaze blue. Large dragons depicted amongst lotus scrolls are first seen on porcelains from Yongle, Xuande periods, implies the meaning of long lifespan of the empire. This vase is rare for its slender form decorated with a deep blue design of five dragons among a lotus flower scroll. In 2011, this vase went under hammer at Sotheby’s Hong Kong, sold for HK$29,780,000 (with buyer’s premium) against pre-sale estimate of HK$20m to 30m.

The other item is a blue & white “dragon and phoenix” vase of Qianlong period. Its base is also inscribed with a six-character Qianlong reign mark. The shape and design of this vase provide an immediate reference to the great works of the Bronze Age of China, particularly that of the Zhou period.

Auction Details

Auction House: Sotheby's Hong Kong
Sale: Important Chinese Art
Sale No.: HK0722
Lots: 117
Viewing:
2017/3/31 10am-5:30pm
2017/4/1-2 10am-8pm
2017/4/3-4 10am-6:30pm
Sale Time: 2017/4/5 2:30pm

Selected Lots

A FINE AND MAGNIFICENT LARGE BLUE AND WHITE ‘DRAGON’ VASE, SEAL MARK AND PERIOD OF QIANLONG

Lot No.: 3618
Height: 46cm
Estimate: HK$35,000,000 - 45,000,000
Provenance:
Collection of Mrs Christian Holmes (1871-1941).
William H. Wolff, Inc., New York, January 1966.
Collecton of Evelyn Annenberg-Hall (1911-2005), New York.
Christie’s New York, 29th March 2006, lot 169.
Sotheby’s Hong Kong, 8th April 2011, lot 3106. (HK$29,780,000)

A FINE AND EXTREMELY RARE BLUE AND WHITE ‘DRAGON AND PHOENIX’ VASE, SEAL MARK AND PERIOD OF QIANLONG

Lot No.: 3614
Height: 37.3cm
Estimate: HK$30,000,000 - 40,000,000
Provenance: The Matsuyama Collection (label).