Page 160 - Sotheby's Fine Chinese Art NYC September 2023

Fig. 1 An archaistic molded ru-type vase (fanglei), seal mark and period of
Yongzheng © Nanjing Museum, Nanjing
圖一 清雍正 仿汝釉方壘 《大清雍正年製》款 © 南京博物院，南京

Brimming with elegance in both form and design, the Vases of this imposing form and covered in Ru-type glaze
present vase is a fine example of monochrome porcelain of are extremely rare, although a closely related one is housed
the Yongzheng period and alludes to the Emperor’s deep in the Nanjing Museum, and illustrated in Gongting zhencang:
appreciation and reverence for the past. While its luminous Zhongguo Qingdai guanyao ciqi / Treasures in the Royalty:
glaze features a subtle network of crackles in imitation of the Official Kiln Porcelain of the Chinese Qing dynasty,
the fabled Ru wares of the Northern Song dynasty, its form Shanghai, 2003, p. 187 (fig. 1). The present vase also bears
represents an adaptation of the archaic bronze fanglei close similarity to a lei-form vase in the Palace Museum,
shape. Pleasing to the eye, the gentle curves of this vase Beijing, published in Kangxi. Yongzheng. Qianlong. Qing
testify to the craftsmen’s ability to soften the somewhat Porcelain from the Palace Museum Collection, Hong Kong,
austere archaic bronze shape to suit the sophisticated taste 1989, pl. 88, and included in the joint exhibition Harmony and
of the Yongzheng Emperor. Integrity. The Yongzheng Emperor and His Times, National
Palace Museum, Taipei, 2011, cat. no. II-60. Closely related
Monochrome vessels required the highest level of skill in form and size to the present vase, the Palace Museum
and precision in every stage of their production, from example is similarly decorated with molded horizontal bands
the purity of the clay and precision of the potting to the and mask handles to the sides, albeit covered in a brown
evenness of the glaze and control of the firing. This was wash against a Ge-type glaze.
especially true for vessels of larger dimensions and covered
in glazes made in imitation of celebrated Song dynasty Compare two Yongzheng mark and period vases, the first
wares. The Yongzheng Emperor was truly passionate of similarly covered overall in a Ru-type glaze but in the more
the understated, elegant Song ceramic wares, which he not commonly found fanghu form of larger size, sold in our
only collected but also commissioned the imperial kilns at Hong Kong rooms, 26th November 1980, lot 366; the other
Jingdezhen to reproduce and imitate. covered in a Guan-type glaze with a molded chilong band to
the neck and protruding shoulders, sold at Christie’s Paris,
15th June 2005, lot 254.

317