EARLY MING DYNASTY, 14TH-15TH CENTURY

The present pear-shaped vase rises from a straight foot to a slender waisted neck and everted rim, covered overall with a celadon glaze of light sea-green tone. The shape of this vase is inherited from the Yuan dynasty, while the current vase is notable for its elegant proportion, featuring a lower rounded body, which is characteristic of the early Ming craftsmanship.

Vases of such exceptional quality are exceedingly rare and highly valuable. Compare with a similar Ming dynasty example in the Palace Museum, Beijing, collection number: xin00098547 (fig. 1); and a closely related yuhuchunping dating from the Yuan to early Ming dynasty, housed in the National Palace Museum, Taipei, collection number: guci 011227N000000000, and illustrated in Green- Longquan Celadon of the Ming Dynasty, Taipei, 2009, no.50 (fig. 2); and a late Yuan to early Ming dynasty one is included in Chinese Ceramics in the Idemitsu Collection, Tokyo, 1987, no.587; and one dating to the early Ming dynasty from the Meiyintang Collection, however, decorated with incised grapes, illustrated in Regina Krahl, Chinese Ceramics from the Meiyintang Collection, vol.3, part 2, London, 2006, no.1582. Also compare a Hongwu example sold at Christie’s Hong Kong, 1 December 2010, lot 3105.

Compare the slender proportions of this type from the Yuan dynasty, such as one illustrated in Zhu Boqian, Celadons from Longquan Kilns, Taipei, 1998, no.160, indicating the refinement perfected by the Ming dynasty.