Magnificent 60.5cm Chinese Blue & White ''Lotus'' Double-Gourd Vase, Late Qing Dynasty (Guangxu Period)
A Commanding Statement Piece of Exceptional Scale and Artistry.
Standing at an impressive 60.5cm (2 feet), this monumental double-gourd (hulu) vase represents the peak of Late Qing Dynasty ''Revival'' porcelain. Adorned with a continuous, hand-painted scroll of interlocking lotus tendrils (Chanzhilie), the vase is a masterclass in traditional Chinese blue-and-white technique.
Auspicious Form: The double-gourd shape, a symbol of longevity and protection in Taoist tradition, is executed here with perfect balance and monumental presence.
The intricate lotus scrollwork features ''heaping and piling'' effects—a skillful tribute to 15th-century Ming masterpieces.
Authentic Patina: The vibrant cobalt blue displays a soft, natural ''halo'' effect into the glaze, characteristic of high-temperature wood-fired kilns of the Guangxu (1875–1908) period.
Imperial Style: The base b
...ears a finely painted six-character apocryphal tribute Qianlong seal mark in underglaze blue.
Condition: Good exceptionally rare for its size, the vase is in good condition with no chips, cracks, repairs, or signs of restoration under UV light.
Dimensions: 60.5cm High.
Provenance:
The G S. May Esquire Private Collection, London - (Acquired from a specialist Asian Works of Art collection).
Note: ''A vase of identical scale and pattern (Lot 2038) sold at the Rob Michiels ''Asian Arts'' Auction (Oct 2020) for €17,550, despite having a chipped rim.
Historical Note: The Tradition of Imperial Replacement Wares
''A Note on Lineage and Tradition:''
''It is a documented practice of the Guangxu (1875–1908) Imperial Kilns to produce exacting ''Replacement Wares'' for the Imperial Household. These monumental pieces were commissioned to replace earlier 18th-century masterpieces that were lost, damaged, or dispersed from the Palace halls during the mid-to-late 19th century.
Executed to the highest ''Palace Standard,'' these commissions utilized the original 18th-century pattern books and superior cobalt recipes to ensure continuity within the Forbidden City’s décor. This lot is a superlative example of this tradition—combining the grand scale and ''Heaping and Piling'' aesthetic of the Qianlong era with the refined technical precision of the late Imperial workshops.''
For the Ming prototype of this vase, see the example with very similar proportions and with a Xuande mark from the National Palace Museum, Taiwan, illustrated in the Catalogue to the Special Exhibition of Ming Xuande Ceramic Wares, Taiwan, no. 4; an unmarked vase from the Edward T. Chow Collection, sold at Sotheby''s Hong Kong, 19 January 1981, lot 414; and another illustrated by Takushin Kushi, Shina Minsho Tojizukan, pl. 58.
Auction Reference: Christie’s Hong Kong
Live Auction: 2325 — Important Chinese Ceramics & Works of Art
Lot Number: 1541
Price Realized: HKD 360,000 (Approximately £35,500 GBP)
Description: A Rare Ming-Style Blue and White Double-Gourd Vase.
Period: Qianlong (1736–1795).
Comparative Scale Note: The Christie’s example (Lot 1541) measures 23.5 cm in height. For comparison, the present lot is a monumental 60.5 cm. Standing nearly three times the height of the standard 18th-century Imperial version, the present lot represents a rare, large-scale floor commission following the identical ''Ming-Style'' decorative program.
Historical Prototypes:
National Palace Museum, Taiwan: See the foundational Xuande-marked prototype (identical proportions), Special Exhibition of Ming Xuande Ceramic Wares, Cat. no. 4.
The Edward T. Chow Collection: Cf. the unmarked example of this form sold at Sotheby''s Hong Kong, 19 January 1981, lot 414.
Literature: See also the example illustrated by Takushin Kushi, Shina Minsho Tojizukan, pl. 5
Antique ID Number (AIDN): SA1201413
Dateline of this antique is 19th Century
Height is 60.5cm (23.8inches)Width is 0cm (0.0inches)Depth is 0cm (0.0inches)
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