The cover of the catalogue for Fine Chinese Works of Art features a flambé-glazed vase of Qianlong period, attracting the attention from many ceramic collectors. The bidding of the vase started at JPY30m (US$274,11) and was hammered down at JPY51m (US$466,030), surpassing the official estimate, after a 5-minute bidding.

The vase is in inverted pear shape and flambé-glazed. Flambé glaze refers to the spectacular colour and texture transformation of ceramic glazes during high firing in a kiln, resulting from a chain of natural chemical process. This vase is covered on the exterior with a glossy glaze of rich red while the base is covered with brown glaze and marked of Qianlong. At the previewing session, we found this 43-cm-tall vase very striking among the other lots. The ring at the centre of the vase is decorated with a moulded-butterfly. The colours white and blue perfectly blend together, almost like a waterfall magically pouring glaze. 

The vase started at JPY 30m and there were mainly three bidders, a telephone bidder and two bidders in the room (one was sitting in the front row while the other one in the back row). When the price went up to JPY40m, the one sitting in the front withdrew, leaving the other two bidders. The vase was knocked down at JPY51m, surpassing its estimate of 35m-45m. The winner is the telephone bidder.

A blue and white double-dragon octagonal vase of mid-Qing dynasty also got great reception at the sale. The vase is in an octagonal shape and decorated with a pair of moulded dragons as handles on both sides. The base is marked with six characters “Da Qing Qianlong Nian Zhi” (made in Qianlong reign in Qing dynasty). The vase was painted with a blue and white pattern of intertwining foliage and trunks, sprawling across drawings of beautiful natural scenery on four sides.  

Ge ware hu-form vase on the left and ge ware mallow-form washer on the right.

Guan ware cong-form vase

The octagonal vase was estimated at JPY5-6m and hammered down at JPY91m after an intense bidding. There were two ge wares at the auction, one was a hu-form vase and the other one was a mallow-form washer. For guan ware, Tokyo Chuo Auction presented a cong-form vase. These three lots are believed to be the products from Ming dynasty or even earlier but they were all sold at the minimum estimate of JPY 8m.

Since the sale in the morning ran over time, the sale of Fine Chinese Works of Art was then postponed. The sale of the flambé-glazed vase did not start until 6 p.m. The auction house thoughtfully offered refreshment for buyers.

 

Auction results of highlighted ceramics

A Flambé -Glazed Vase. Seal Mark and Period of Qianlong. Qing Dynasty.

Lot no.: 1359
Height: 43cm
Estimate: JPY 35,000,000 - 45,000,000
Hammer price: JPY 51,000,000

A Blue and White Double-Dragon Octagonal Vase. Mid-Qing Dynasty.

Lot no.: 1356
Height: 56cm
Estimate: JPY 5,000,000 - 6,000,000
Hammer price: JPY 9,100,000

Ge Ware Hu-Form Vase. Ming Dynasty or Earlier.

Lot no.: 1337
Height: 17cm
Estimate: JPY 8,000,000 - 9,000,000
Hammer price: JPY 8,000,000

Guan Ware Cong-Form Vase. Ming Dynasty or Earlier.

Lot no.: 1338
Height: 13cm
Estimate: JPY 8,000,000 - 9,000,000
Hammer price: JPY 8,000,000

Guan Ware Cong-Form Vase. Ming Dynasty or Earlier.

Lot no.: 1338
Height: 13cm
Estimate: JPY 8,000,000 - 9,000,000
Hammer price: JPY 8,000,000
 

Auction details

Auction house: Tokyo Chuo Auction
Sale: Fine Chinese Works of Art
No. of lot: 133
Auction time: 2017/9/4｜3pm