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Lot Essay
The mallet-form vase, or kinuta vase, was greatly admired by Japanese as well as Chinese patrons during the Song and Yuan periods for the fine quality of its celadon glaze. The mallet vase shape is known in three main variants from the Longquan kilns. The majority of these vases were made with two elaborate handles, either in the form of phoenix, as in the case of the current vases, or in the form of fish.
Compare to a group of kinuta vases applied with either dragon or phoenix handles in important collections in Japan, included in the exhibition Heavenly Blue: Southern Song Celadons held at the Nezu Museum, Tokyo, and illustrated in the catalogue, pp.46-53, nos. 17-25. See also an example of this type, sold at Chistie’s Hong Kong, 27 November 2013, lot 3278. The current vases are particularly rare as a pair.
Compare to a group of kinuta vases applied with either dragon or phoenix handles in important collections in Japan, included in the exhibition Heavenly Blue: Southern Song Celadons held at the Nezu Museum, Tokyo, and illustrated in the catalogue, pp.46-53, nos. 17-25. See also an example of this type, sold at Chistie’s Hong Kong, 27 November 2013, lot 3278. The current vases are particularly rare as a pair.