A FINE PAIR OF DOUCAI 'LOTUS POND' SAUCER DISHES MARKS AND PERIOD OF YONGZHENG

each with shallow well-potted sides rising from a countersunk base enclosed by an unglazed footring, the centre finely painted with a pair of mandarin ducks swimming on either side of a stylised patch of lotus with three pale iron-red blooms on slender naturalistically stippled stems, flanked by two large frilly-edged leaves and tall aquatic grasses, within a double line border repeated around rim, the underside with a matching frieze of four ducks swimming across gently rippled water between sprays of lotus, all below a band of six dragons encircled around the rim alternating in yellow, green and aubergine in pursuit of 'flaming pearls', the decoration all outlined in vivid underglazed blue

Collection of Edward T. Chow.
Sotheby's Hong Kong, 19th May 1981, lot 550.

Chinese Art from the Ching Wan Society Collections II, Chang Foundation, Taipei, 1998, cat. no. 51.

E.T. Chow and F.S. Drake, "Kuan-Yao and Min-Yao: A Study on Imperial Porcelain and People's Porcelain from K'ang-hsi to the End of the Ch'ing Dynasty," Archives of the Chinese Art Society of America, XIII, 1959, pl. I, figs. 1 and 2.  
The Leshantang Collection of Chinese Porcelain, Taipei, 2005, cat.no. 45.

The overall condition of these two dishes is extremely good with only a few light scratches over the mark on one of the dishes.
"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."

The present pair of dishes is a superb example of Yongzheng doucai wares which were strongly influenced by early Ming doucai and blue and white designs. Painted with strong lines in underglaze-blue and filled-in with a soft colour palette, the design of lotus with mandarin ducks symbolises the wish for a harmonious marriage and the birth of illustrious sons. This auspicious scene was revived again during the Qing dynasty in the doucai colour scheme. The Qing design seems to have been considered a Chenghua pattern, as Qing examples exist with a spurious Chenghua mark.

Two examples of the doucai Chenghua prototype from the National Palace Museum was included in the exhibition The Special Exhibition of Ch'eng-Hua Porcelain Ware, 1465-1487, National Palace Museum, Taipei, 2003, cat. nos. 124 and 125. 

A Yongzheng doucai dish of this size and design in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, is published in Oriental Ceramics. The World's Great Collections, vol. 11, Tokyo, 1982, pl. 144; another in the Palace Museum, Beijing, is included in Kangxi, Yongzheng, Qianlong, Hong Kong, 1989, pl. 34; and a pair from the T. Y. Chao collection was sold in these rooms, 19^th May 1987, lot 296. Also compare the blue and white version of this pattern, formerly of the T. Y. Chao collection, previously sold in these rooms, 19 May 1987, lot 268, and included in this sale, lot  2518.