A FINE IRON-RUST-GLAZED HU VASE, QING DYNASTY China, 18th-19th century. The robustly potted, pear-shaped vessel supported on a splayed foot and rising to a wide, slightly tapering neck with a galleried rim. Overall covered with a reddish-brown glaze suffused with minute metallic speckles, the recessed base and interior covered with a transparent glaze. The base with a six-character seal mark da Qing Qianlong nianzhi neatly painted in underglaze blue. Provenance: Old French private collection. Condition: Excellent condition with minor wear and firing irregularities, such as dark spots, glaze recesses, and small firing cracks. Weight: 1,849 g Dimensions: Height 28.9 cm Expert's note: If this vase would not bear a Qianlong mark, there is no question it would firmly be dated to the 18th century, no less. This author recommends keeping that in mind when bidding, as there is a distinct and non-negligible chance that this vessel indeed is a period piece. Literature comparison: The form of this vase is inspired by Song wares, which were in turn based on archaic bronze hu vase prototypes and were produced covered in various glazes during the Qing dynasty. See a deep-blue glazed version from the Yongzheng period in the Palace Museum, Beijing, illustrated in Gugong Bowuyuan cang Qingdai yuyao ciqi [Qing porcelains from the Imperial kilns preserved in the Palace Museum], volume 1, Beijing, 2005, plate 122. Auction result comparison: Compare a related tianqiuping with a very similar glaze, dated to the 19th century and of slightly larger size (38.5 cm high), at Sotheby's Paris in Art d'Asie on 10 June 2021, lot 162, sold for EUR 20,160. 清代鐵鏽花釉壺 中國，十八至十九世紀。梨形壺，足外撇，唇沿有邊緣帶。壺身施紅褐色釉，如微細金屬鐵鏽斑點，底足内凹，覆透明釉，“大清乾隆年制”六字款。 來源：法國私人老收藏。 品相：狀況極佳，有輕微磨損和燒製不規則現象，例如黑點、釉面凹陷以及燒製產生的小裂紋。 重量：1,849 克 尺寸：高28.9 厘米 拍賣結果比較：一件相似釉斑的天球瓶，十九世紀，尺寸稍大（高38,5厘米），見巴黎蘇富比2021年6月10日，售價EUR 20,160。