China, 1644-1912. The cylindrical body spiritedly painted in bright tones of cobalt blue with a falcon perched on a rocky outpost emerging from faintly painted crashing waves, the rim and foot with key-fret bands, covered overall in a transparent ‘orange-peel’ glaze.

Provenance: From an old Swedish estate. A private collector, acquired from the above.
Condition: Very good condition with minor wear and firing irregularities. Extensive fritting to rim, typical for this type of ware.

Weight: 1,863 g
Dimensions: Height 37.7 cm

Evidence suggests that the art of falconry may have begun in Mesopotamia, with the earliest accounts dating to around 2,000 BC. Also, some raptor representations are in the northern Altai, western Mongolia. The falcon was a symbolic bird of ancient Mongol tribes. During the Turkic Period of Central Asia (7^th century AD), concrete figures of falconers on horseback were described on the rocks in Kyrgyz.

From 936-945 AD the Khitans, a nomadic people from Manchuria, conquered parts of northern China. In 960 AD China was eventually taken over by the Song dynasty. From its beginnings, the new government was unable to completely control the Khitan, who had already assimilated much of Chinese culture. Throughout its 300-year rule of China, the Song dynasty had to pay tribute to the Khitan to keep them from conquering additional territory. Despite the fact that the Khitans assimilated Chinese culture, they retained many nomadic traditions, including falcon hunting.

Expert’s note: The rare subject and unusual decoration, particularly the faintly painted crashing waves and the sparse use of borders, suggest the present vase was made as a present for a high-ranked dignitary, either from the Ottoman Empire, or possibly from Northeastern, Central or even Western Asia, where in some regions falconry had already been practiced for millennia and remained an important element of local culture. The extensive fritting to the mouth rim clearly points towards the earlier 18^th century as a possible period of creation.

Auction result comparison: Compare a blue and white vase made for the Ottoman market, also painted with a falcon, but dated to the Wanli period and of pear-shaped form, at Christie’s London in Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art on 14 May 2013, lot 195, sold for GBP 11,250, and another dated to the Jiajing period at Sotheby’s London in Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art on 12-14 July 2006, lot 596, sold for GBP 13,800.

清代青花鷹石紋棒槌瓶

中國，1644-1912年。棒槌瓶上明亮的青花繪製了一隻獵鷹單足立於岩石上。岩石下淡淡的波浪紋。足部雷紋。瓶體表面可見橙皮釉。

來源：瑞典老收藏。私人藏家購於上述收藏。
品相：品相極好，輕微磨損和燒製不規則。 邊緣有大量的熔塊，這是此類器皿的典型特徵。

重量：1,863 克
尺寸：高37.7 厘米

拍賣結果比較：一件為奧斯曼帝國市場製作的青花瓶，上面同樣繪製了一隻鷹，但應爲萬曆年制，李形瓶，于倫敦佳士得Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art 拍場2013年5月14日，lot 195, 售價GBP 11,250, 另一件嘉靖年的于Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art 拍場，2006年7月12-14日，lot 596, 售價GBP 13,800。