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This vase is exceptional for its crisply carved New York, 20th January 1925, lot 248; a vase
motif of ferocious five-clawed dragons amongst was sold in these rooms, 20th May 1980, lot 91;
clouds, and belongs to a select group of carved another pair was sold at Christie’s London, 10th
porcelain wares made during the Qianlong reign. July 1978, lot 55; and a pair of vases of this form
Vases of this type are often referred to in Chinese but carved with a flower scroll, was sold in our
as ‘fang Dingyao’ or ‘in imitation of Ding ware’ New York rooms, 23rd March 2004, lot 644, and
after the deep opaque white glaze reminiscent again in these rooms, 8th April 2007, lot 725.
of the much celebrated official Ding wares of Additional vases from this group, but of various
the Song dynasty. Among the vessels of this forms and designs, in the Palace Museum,
group the present piece is particularly notable Beijing, are illustrated in The Complete Collection
for its lively carving with the dragons rendered of Treasures of the Palace Museum. Monochrome
in a highly dynamic manner flying through ruyi- Porcelain, Hong Kong, 1999, pls 239-242; and
shaped clouds. two further vases were included in the exhibition
Monochrome Ceramics of Ming and Ch’ing
A slightly larger pair of vases of this form, carved Dynasties, Hong Kong Museum of Art, Hong
with dragons above waves, from the collection of Kong, 1977, cat. nos 140-141.
A.E. Hippisley, was sold at the Anderson Galleries,
IMPORTANT CHINESE ART 23
