Cf. a Qianlong teadust-glazed vase of this form in the National Palace Museum, Taiwan, included in the travelling Exhibition of Chinese Art Treasures, U. S. A. 1961-2, illustrated in the Catalogue, no. 198; and another with a Yongzheng mark in the Palace Museum, Beijing, illustrated in Kangxi, Yongzheng, Qianlong, Hong Kong, 1989, p. 298, pl. 127.

While the present lot is evidently inspired by the Zhou dynasty bronze prototype of this imposing form and with strapwork design, the rich colour and texture of the teadust glaze also works exceptionally well in accentuating the theme of archaism. Apart from the teadust glaze, hu-shaped vases are found covered in other glazes, particularly Song-inspired glazes such as ge and ru-type. Compare with the large Qianlong ru-type hu sold in these Rooms, 2 November 1999, lot 622.