A RARE BLUE AND WHITE 'LIANZI' BOWL XUANDE MARK AND PERIOD

of deep rounded form with steep sides rising from a narrow circular base, the interior painted in underglaze blue with a band of interlinked lappets and trefoils surrounding a narrow band of foliate motifs within double line borders and a central medallion of similar lappets, with a band of diaper below the rim, the exterior painted with a wide band of upright lotus petals between bands of key-fret below the rim and at the foot

Formerly in a Swedish Private Collection.

The bowl is in good overall condition with the exception of an old hairline crack runnning around the top of the foot, which is visible externally and internally and may be a firing flaw, a three-pointed 1.5cm., long hairline star crack to the side of the interior and minor scratches around the body.
"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 bowl of this elegant shape and design, in the National Palace Museum, Taipei, was included in the Special Exhibition of Selected Hsuan-te Imperial Porcelains of the Ming Dynasty, National Palace Museum, Taipei, 1998, cat. no. 157, together with a smaller example, cat. no. 160. Compare also a Xuande bowl of this size and design, in the Beijing Arts and Crafts Museum, Beijing, illustrated in Zhongguo taoci quanji, vol. 12, Shanghai, 2000, pl. 66. For three closely related bowls, see one formerly in the R.H.R. Palmer Collection, sold at Christie's Hong Kong, 17^th January 1989, lot 571, and again in these rooms, 9^th June 2004, lot 27, from the Toguri Collection; another, from the George Eumorfopoulos Collection, sold in these rooms, 29^th May 1940, lot 222; and a third example, from the Norton Collection, also sold in these rooms, 26^th March 1963, lot 51.