Plat en porcelaine bleu blanc à fond jaune Chine, dynastie Ming, marque et époque Zhengde (1506-1521)

circulaire sur un court pied droit, décoré au centre d'une branche chargée de deux fleurs épanouies de grenadier dans leur feuillage, entourée de branches de pêcher, cerisier et kaki chargées de fruits, l'extérieur délicatement peint de quatre fleurs de lotus, marque à six caractères dans un double cercle en bleu sous couverte à la base

The dish is in good condition with the exception of two tiny air bubbles to the rim, a couple of minor iron spots and light scratches to the glaze inside. A minute flaw in the glaze outside the footrim and light scratches to the glaze outside. The actual yellow colour is somewhat warmer, a little darker than the illustration would suggest in the catalogue.
"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. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

A closely related example, from the Qing Court collection and still in Beijing, is illustrated in The Complete Collection of Treasures of the Palace Museum. Blue and White Porcelain with Underglazed Red (II), Shanghai, 2000, pl. 232; two in the National Palace Museum, Taipei, are published, one in Blue-and-White Ware of the Ming Dynasty, bk. 4, Hong Kong, 1963, pl. 13, and the other in Minji meihin zurokui, vol. II, Tokyo, 1977, pl. 98; and another is illustrated in Regina Krahl, Chinese Ceramics from the Meiyintang Collection, vol. II, London, 1994, pl. 685. See also two dishes sold in our Hong Kong rooms, one from the Edward T. Chow collection, 25^th November 1980, lot 41, and the other from the Cunliffe collection, 23^rd October 2005, lot 205; and a third dish from the Greenwald collection, sold at Christie's Hong Kong, 1^st December 2010, lot 2805.

Dishes of this design were first produced during the Xuande reign (1426-35) and continued through to the Jiajing period (1522-66), peaking in popularity during the Hongzhi (1488-1505) and Zhengde reigns. For a Xuande prototype, with a reign mark and of the period, see one from the Sir Percival David collection, now in the British Museum, London, included in Stacey Pierson, Percival David Foundation of Chinese Art. A Guide to the Collection, London, 2002, pl. 65.