A FINE PAIR OF FAMILLE-ROSE FLORAL BOWLS MARKS AND PERIOD OF YONGZHENG

each finely potted with deep rounded sides rising from a straight foot to a flared rim, painted on the interior with a pale-green orchid bloom and two loose petals, naturalistically placed as if they had fallen into the bowl, the exterior decorated with a large peony with lush pink, white and pale green petals, flanked by two pink roses and two buds on a long thorny stalk, and blue-petalled asters growing by a decorative garden rock, the reverse with two hovering multi-coloured butterflies accompanied on one bowl by a single bee, the base inscribed in underglaze blue with a six-character reign mark written in three lines within a double ring

Regina Krahl, Chinese Ceramics from the Meiyintang Collection, London, 1994-2010, vol. 2, no. 964.

The two bowls are in very good condition, except for some glaze crackles, both at the bottom and along the joints of the foots and bodies. There are also 2 short natural firing lines to the foot of the bowl on the right of the photo. There is only minute loss to the enamels.
"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."

These bowls belong to a distinctive group of Yongzheng famille-rose porcelains painted with floral motifs, often with prominent use of blue enamel, and with the mark written in three vertical columns. Two other bowls of this design have been sold in these rooms, 11th April 2008, lots 2901 and 2902. A famille-rose dish with a similar mark in the Palace Museum, Beijing, is published in The Complete Collection of Treasures of the Palace Museum. Porcelains with Cloisonne Enamel Decoration and Famille Rose Decoration, Hong Kong, 1999, pl. 61.