A rare large carved celadon bowl. Yongzheng six-character sealmark and of the period (1723-1735)

A rare large carved celadon bowl. Yongzheng six-character sealmark and of the period (1723-1735). Photo: Christie's Images Ltd. 2011

Well potted with deep rounded sides and flared mouth rim, the exterior finely carved with three large sprays of blossoming lotus, peony and mallow above smaller sprays of chrysanthemum, begonia and dianthus and below detached branches of peach, pomegranate and persimmon, the sanduo, all interspersed with small clusters of swirling clouds, covered overall with an even glaze of attractive pale bluish-green tone, the foot rim with brown dressing; 13 1/4 in. (33.7 cm.) diam., box  Estimate HK$2,500,000 - HK$3,000,000 ($322,858 - $387,430). Price Realized HK$6,860,000 ($885,926)

Provenance : Previously sold at Sotheby's Hong Kong, 24 May 1978, lot 234
The British Rail Pension Fund, sold at Sotheby's Hong Kong, 16 May 1989, lot 57

Exhibited: The Dallas Museum of Art, 1985-1988

Notes: A similar celadon-glazed bowl of this large size with Yongzheng mark is illustrated by R. Krahl, The Anthony de Rothschild Collection of Chinese Ceramics, Eranda Foundation, 1996, vol. 2, pp. 258-259, no. 144; another was sold at Christie's New York, 18 September 2003, lot 350.

See also the bowl of similar size and pattern with Yongzheng mark but covered with a pale underglaze blue leaving the carved decoration in white, the whole then having been covered with a pale celadon glaze, included in the exhibition of Chingtechen Porcelain of the Ming and Ch'ing Dynasties from the Collection of The T.Y. Chao Family Foundation, Hong Kong Museum of Art, 1978, p. 57, no. 59.

Christie's. The Imperial Sale,  1 June 2011 , Convention Hall www.chisties.com