48.7 cm., 193/16 in. high

Provenance_x000D_
Henry C. Gibson (1830-1891), Philadelphia, USA_x000D_
_x000D_
Superbly-potted with a bulging circular body risingelegantly from a short splayed oval foot to a cylindricalneck collared with a raised ring and a lipped rim, flankedeach side by a pair of stylised chilong handles, moulded inhigh relief on each side with a central domed medallionenclosing a taiji motif encircled by the equally-spaced baguamotif, the sides each with two raised bosses, all coveredoverall in an attractive and unctuous greyish-blueglaze with a network of fine crackles, the base with asix-character Imperial sealmark in underglaze blue.Moonflasks of this type are extremely rare, a closelyrelated blue and white example of identical shape is illustratedin Ethereal Elegance, Porcelain Vases of the ImperialQing, The Huaihaitang Collection, no. 86. See also a celadonexample in the Shanghai Museum, with ruyi-clouddecoration, which is potted in the identical shape.Henry Clay Gibson (1830-91) was one of the great tycoonsof 19th century Philadelphia. He was the founderand director in various enterprises like, Fidelity Insurance,Trust & Safe Deposit Co., First National Bank ofPhiladelphia, etc.. Known as an enthusiastic art collector,he was the director and later vice president of the PennsylvaniaAcademy of Fine Arts where he bequeathed hiscollection of paintings and sculptures to the Academy.The present vase is seen illustrated here in an early photographof the interior of his townhouse.

Price estimate:
HKD: 5,000,000 - 6,000,000
USD: 636,900 - 764,300

Auction Result:
HKD : 5,900,000