A RARE AND IMPORTANT GUAN-TYPE ARCHAISTIC VASE, FANG HU, YONGZHENG MARK AND PERIOD

A RARE AND IMPORTANT GUAN-TYPE 'ARCHAISTIC' VASE, FANG HU, YONGZHENG MARK AND PERIOD
China, 1723-1735. The high-shouldered body with curved sides supported on a splayed foot, rising to a waisted neck and lipped rim, flanked by a pair of expressive chilong masks with elegantly curved horns, bulging eyes, and fangs, suspending mock rings. Covered overall in a thick pale-gray glaze suffused with a dense yet subtle crackle and attractively pooling in the recesses. The deeply countersunk base with a finely painted underglaze-blue six-character seal mark
da Qing Yongzheng nianzhi
and of the period.
Provenance:
From an English private collection.
Condition:
Excellent condition with only minor old wear and firing irregularities, including pitting, dark spots, and few glaze recesses. Extremely rare in this pristine state of preservation. The glaze with a subtle, unctuous feel overall.
Weight: 4,655 g
Dimensions: Height 33.2 cm
Literature comparison:
For an example of the Han-dynasty model for this vase, see Christie's Paris, 9 June 2016, lot 232.
Auction result comparison:
A near-identical vase, but with evident damage and repair as well as significant misfirings, was sold at Christie's Paris on 7 June 2011, lot 194, for EUR 28,600 (at the time a solid result, given the condition of this example). Compare a closely related guan-type fang hu, also with a Yongzheng mark and of the period, of near-identical form but slightly larger size (43.8 cm) and with ruyi-scepter loop handles, at Sotheby's Hong Kong in Fine Chinese Ceramics and Works Of Art on 9 April 2006, lot 1614, sold for HKD 1,440,000.
雍正款及年代仿官釉螭龍啣環輔首方壺
中國，1723-1735年。侈口，短頸，碩腹。頸部螭龍啣環輔首。通體施仿官釉，開片細密。足緣施醬色護胎汁。底足內青花六字款“大清雍正年製”。
來源：
英國私人收藏
品相：
品相極佳，只有輕微的舊時磨損和燒製不規則現象，包括點蝕、黑點和少量釉面凹陷。 在這種原始保存狀態下極為罕見。釉面整體勻潤。
重量：4,655 克
尺寸：高 33.2 厘米
文獻比較：
一件漢代方壺，見巴黎佳士得，2016年6月9 日 lot 232。
拍賣結果比較：
一件幾乎一模一樣的方壺，但損壞比較嚴重並燒製瑕疵，有修補，售於巴黎佳士得2011年6月 7日 lot 194, 售價EUR 28,600 (考慮到此拍品的品相，這個價格是很正常的)；比較一件官釉方壺，雍正款及年代，尺寸稍大 (43.8 釐米)，如意雙耳，見香港蘇富比 Fine Chinese Ceramics and Works Of Art 2006年4月9日 lot 1614,
售價HKD 1,440,000
；比較一件仿官釉
相近獸首啣環輔首
，雍正款及年代，見香港蘇富比 Monochrome II 2020年10月9日 lot 34,
售價HKD 4,032,000
。