A GUAN-TYPE OCTAGONAL VASE, BA FANGHU, MID-QING China, 18^th century. The pear-shaped body rising supported on a spreading foot, the shoulder applied with two large lug handles, which are connected by two molded horizontal bowstrings to either end, covered overall in a thick grayish-blue glaze with a distinctive fine crackle of black and golden color.

Provenance: French private collection.
Condition: Excellent condition with minor wear, such as pitting, glaze recesses, and dark spots.

Weight: 1,195 g
Dimensions: Height 24.6 cm

The glaze stopping and pooling irregularly above the foot, revealing the dark brown ware burnt in the firing, with the recessed base glazed as well.

Literature comparison: Compare a hu with a similar glaze, illustrated in Catalogue of a Special Exhibition of Ch'ing Dynasty Monochrome Porcelains in the National Palace Museum, Taipei, 1992, p. 133, no. 80.

Auction result comparison: Compare a closely related but smaller (17.9 cm high) guan-type octagonal hu, also dated to the 18^th century and of near-identical form, at Christie’s London in Chinese Ceramics, Works of Art and Textiles on 16 May 2014, lot 1316, sold for GBP 16,250. 清代中期官窯八方貫耳瓶
中國，十八世紀。瓶為八方形，口微外撇，頸部凸起两道弦紋，两侧各有一筒状圓形直耳。腹下部豐满，高圈足微外撇。此瓶青色釉面光亮莹潤，通體開細碎魚子紋金線，紋片自然美觀。

來源：法國私人收藏。
品相：品相極好，輕微磨損，如麻點、釉面凹陷和黑斑。
重量：1,195 克
尺寸：高24.6 厘米

拍賣結果比較：一件十八世紀官窯八方貫耳瓶相近但稍小 (高17.9 厘米)， 見倫敦佳士得 Chinese Ceramics, Works of Art and Textiles 2014年5月16日 lot 1316, 售價GBP 16,250。