67 cm. (26 3/8 in.) high

Provenance:  
A Japanese Private Collection

The current vase belongs to a group of vases produced during the Jiajing reign, all reflecting the Emperor’s preoccupation with longevity and Daoism. The decoration on these vases varies, but as with the shou-character roundels and the Shoulao roundels on the current vase, the symbolism is always centered around the theme of longevity.
A similar vase decorated on the lower section with Shoulao roundels among shou symbols and peach tree roundels on the upper-bulb, was sold at Christie’s New York, 21st September 2004, lot 243.
A smaller double-gourd vase of similar form in the Palace Museum, Beijing, is illustrated in The Complete Collection of Treasures of the Palace Museum, Blue and White with Underglazed Red (II) , Beijing, 2000, pl. 85. The Palace Museum example is decorated with medallions enclosing the Eight Immortals on the lower section, and crane among clouds decorating the upper section. Compare, also, a vase from the Matsuoka Collection illustrated in Mayuyama, Seventy Years, Tokyo, 1976, vol. I, pl. 868 decorated with mythical beast roundels on the lower section and Shoulao medallions among shou characters on the upper bulb.
A similar vase painted with four representations of Shoulao below cranes in flight, was sold at Sotheby’s New York, 21st September 2005, lot 71. A vase, decorated on the lower section with Shoulao roundels, among shou roundels, and with xi -roundels among smaller shou roundels on the upper section, was sold by Christie’s London, 9th June 1997, lot 67.

Price estimate:
HKD: 500,000-800,000
USD: 64,500-103,200

Auction Result:
HKD: --