A DOUCAI 'PEONY AND ROCK' DISH MARK AND PERIOD OF YONGZHENG

the interior finely painted with two butterflies fluttering amidst three colourful tree peony blooms, one bloom in yellow, another lavender and the third iron-red, all springing from the same tree growing from the base of a large garden rock, the rounded sides of the exterior painted with a chrysanthemum on one side and peonies and pinks on the other, both similarly flourishing from rocks with butterflies on each side, the base inscribed in underglaze-blue with a six-character reign mark within a double circle

Formerly in a Japanese Collection.

Apart from a 1 cm line in the body (not a crack) covered beneath the glaze (located at the six o'clock position), only visible from the interior, the overall condition is very good with little wear to the enamelling.
"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."

It is rare to find a Yongzheng dish of this pattern decorated in doucai enamels, although one from the Woodthorpe collection was included in the exhibition Enamelled Polychrome Porcelain of the Manchu Dynasty, Oriental Ceramic Society, London, 1951, cat.no. 99, and sold in our London rooms, 6th April 1954, lot 105.

Another similar dish, from the Aykroyd collection, was sold in our London rooms, 17th May 1966, lot 229; and two similar examples were sold in these rooms, 26th October 1993, lot 154, and 25th April 2004, lot 222.