MING DYNASTY (1368-1644)

Longquan vases of this elegant form have been sought after since the Southern Song period. The encircling lines at the junction of shoulder and neck and the second-lowest line on the body appear to be linked to luting lines. The fine, raised lines give the shape one of its Chinese names, xianwenping, meaning 'string pattern vase.' A similar vase, dated Southern Song-Yuan dynasty, in the collection of the National Palace Museum, Taipei, is illustrated in Green – Longquan Celadon of the Ming Dynasty, National Palace Museum, Taipei, 2009, no. 151. Another similar example with a cup-shaped mouth, dated to the Ming dynasty, is illustrated in Sekai Toji Zenshu, vol. 14, Tokyo, 1976, pl. 227. See, also, the similar example sold at Sotheby's Hong Kong, 4 April 2017, lot 3049.