YUAN DYNASTY (1279-1368)

Blue and white pear-shaped vases from the Yuan dynasty are very rare with few surviving examples. A very similar Yuan vase depicting a lotus pond and with almost identical decorative bands, but without mandarin ducks, is in the Metropolitan Museum of Art Collection (accession no. 1984.297) (fig. 1). Another Yuan vase of very similar form, but decorated with melons on vines, from Mayuyama & Co., was sold at Christie’s New York, 14 September 2017, lot 1179. Compare also to a Yuan yuhuchunping decorated with phoenix, sold at Sotheby’s London, 13 May 2015, lot 283; and a Yuan blue-glazed yuhuchunping with traces of a gilt dragon motif, sold at Christie’s Hong Kong, 28 November 2018, lot 2903.

The pattern of mandarin ducks swimming amid a lotus pond can also be seen on a Yuan blue and white charger, sold at Christie’s Hong Kong, 30 May 2012, lot 4054 (fig. 2).