Lot 345
345
THE PROPERTY OF A LADY
A POWDER BLUE-GLAZED CONG-FORM VASE

Details
A POWDER BLUE-GLAZED CONG-FORM VASE
DAOGUANG SEAL MARK IN UNDERGLAZE BLUE AND OF THE PERIOD

The rectangular body molded with two elephant-head handles suspending rings, covered inside and out with a finely mottled glaze of soft mazarine blue tone thinning to pale blue on the edges, small glaze chip--11 5/8 in. (29.5cm.) high

Lot Essay

Compare the unmarked example illustrated by Avitable, From the Dragon's Treasure, 1987, no. 113, which he notes as being "identical to with a vase mentioned as No. 4 of the Tongzhi list (1864), and as No. 1 of the Guangxu list (1900). Its designation in the Tongzhi list as da ping you xing ("vase with elephants as symbol of the great peace") emphasizes the importance of the vessel, whose colour is identical to the colour of the vessels used on altars of the Temple of Heaven"