reserved with four upright rectangular panels with birds perched on flowering and fruiting branches, the neck with two panels of flowering plants, all on a bright blue ground gilt with lotus scroll on the body and a wan diaper pattern around the neck, the base glazed white, apocryphal six-character Chenghua mark

There is a burst bubble on the shoulder, abrasion all over, and majority of the gilding on the blue ground has worn off. There is also an approx. 1 in. (2.5 cm) long firing tear to the base.
In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective qualified opinion.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING CONDITION OF A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE PRINTED IN THE CATALOGUE.

There appear to be two variations with similar decoration; those with two rectangular reserves and gilt only on the neck and those with four oblong panels and a further pair of famille-verte reserves on the neck. The additional elaboration on the present example explains why it is the rarer of the two. A closely related example with four panels of famille-verte decoration in illustrated in The Complete Works of Chinese Ceramics, Shanghai, 1999-2000, vol. 14, no. 74, p. 94. Another from the Leonard Gow Collection but lacking the reserves on the neck is illustrated in R.L. Hobson, The Later Ceramic Wares of China, New York, 1925, pl. XX, fig. 3. Finally a pair of similarly decorated rouleau vases, formerly belonging to the Cleveland Museum of Art, was sold Christie's New York, 21st September 2000, lot 330, and a pair with only two panels from the Goldschmidt Collection was sold in the same rooms, 24th March 2004, lot 205.