A fine and rare yellow-ground and underglaze-blue 'gardenia' dish; Zhengde mark and of the period

A fine and rare yellow-ground and underglaze-blue 'gardenia' dish. Zhengde mark and of the period. photo Bonhams

The thickly potted dish of shallow circular form, supported on a tapering foot, the centre boldly painted in underglaze-blue with flowering gardenia enclosed within a double ring, the well with sprigs of fruiting pomegranates, flowering lotus tied in a bunch, and fruiting grape in a vine, the underside with a continuous flower scroll of camellias or peonies, all within double line bands in underglaze-blue, all against a rich yellow enamel ground. 21.6cm diam. Sold for HK$2,040,000

明正德 黃地青花折枝梔子花紋盤 「大明正德年製」楷款

Provenance: Property of a private English collector

A similar dish in the Palace Museum, Beijing is illustrated in The Complete Collection of Treasures of the Palace Museum. Blue and White Porcelain with Underglazed Red (II), Shanghai, 2000, pl. 233. Other dishes of this form and design are preserved in the British Museum, illustrated by Jessica Harrison-Hall, Ming Ceramics in the British Museum, London, 2001, p. 204, pl. 8:23; and in the Percival David Foundation, London, included in The World's Great Collections. Oriental Ceramics, vol. 6, Tokyo, 1982, pl. 37. For a slightly smaller dish of this form and design sold at auction, see a dish from the Toguri Museum of Art, illustrated by Fujioka Ryôichi and Hasebe Gakuji, Sekai tôji zenshû/Ceramic Art of the World, vol.14, Tokyo, 1976, col.pl.171, and sold at Sotheby's London, 9 June 2004, lot 40.

Bonhams. Bloch Collection; Wine and Whisky; Chinese Ceramics, Works of Art & Paintings; Jewellery, Jadeite and Wristwatches and Writing Instruments, 23 Nov 2010 to 24 Nov 2010. Hong Kong. www.bonhams.com