A square powder blue glazed vase 'cong' with handles in the shape of elephant heads

Description:

China, Tongzhi six-character mark and period
H.29,7 cm
Square in shape with a cylindrical neck and foot, covered in a strong cobalt blue glaze, which is lighter at the edges. The glaze ends cleanly above the unglazed, slightly recessed stand ring. The underside with a six-character Tongzhi mark in underglaze blue.
Note: Cong vases with a monochrome glaze were produced in the imperial Öfen of Jingdezhen during the Tongzhi reign. The archaic shape goes back to Neolithic jade vessels, which symbolise the interplay of heaven (round) and earth (square). Comparable pieces can be found in the collection of the Beijing Palace Museum; a closely related example was sold at Christie's Hong Kong in 2019.
From an old German private collection, according to tradition assembled before 1990
Cong vases with a monochrome glaze were produced in the imperial Öfen of Jingdezhen during the Tongzhi reign. The archaic shape dates back to Neolithic jade vessels, symbolising the interplay of heaven (round) and earth (square), a form made from the most precious material and of great symbolic significance. Since its creation, the Cong vase has been repeatedly reinterpreted, especially during the reign of Qianlong. The emperor's fascination and reverence for archaic materials is well documented and motivated the artists of Jingdezhen to recreate the ancient form in fine porcelain with smooth sides and a rich glaze.
The present vase is inspired by Neolithic jade in a square shape with a hollowed-out cylindrical interior; a form made from the most precious material and of great symbolic significance. Since its creation, the Cong vase has been repeatedly reinterpreted, especially during the reign of Qianlong. The emperor's fascination and reverence for archaic materials is well documented and motivated the artists of Jingdezhen to recreate the ancient form in fine porcelain with smooth sides and intense glaze. Cf. a pair of vases from the Tongzhi period sold at Christie's London, 6/11/2018, lot 300 - Except for a small chip on one corner above the stand, very few tiny glaze chips and minor traces of use in good condition