plat en porcelaine bleu blanc Chine, dynastie Ming, époque Yongle (1403-1424)

circulaire, à bordure plate, le centre décoré de pivoines épanouies ou en boutons et leur feuillage, issues d'une seule et même tige, le cavetto orné d'une bande continue de lotus et rinceaux se répétant sur l'extérieur, huit rameaux de fleurs et fruits sur le marli, la base non émaillée

Collection particulière du sud de la France

A 7cm hairline rim crack dividing into a smaller one (1.5cm) in the middle of the underside and a small associated chip to the rim restored (approx. 0.2cm) ; tiny glaze flakes to the rim ; several expected pin head-size frits and glazing impurities to the centre; light wear of the glaze to the interior and overall surface scratches. Please note that the dish is of a slightly greyer tone than illustrated 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."

Large blue and white dishes of this rare and spectacular type, with powerfully painted flower motifs in graded shades of cobalt-blue, are characteristic of the early part of the Yongle period and are mostly held in museum collections. Two related dishes are illustrated in Regina Krahl, Chinese Ceramics in the Topkapi Saray Museum, Istanbul, vol. II, London, 1986, pl. 598; two examples in the Archaeological Museum of Iran, Teheran, are published in J.A. Pope, Chinese Porcelains from the Ardebil Shrine, Washington, 1956, pls 29.65-66; and another from the Qing Court collection and still in Beijing, is included in The Complete Collection of Treasures of the Palace Museum. Blue and White Porcelain with Underglazed Red (I), Hong Kong, 2000, pl. 55. See also a dish from the collection of Richard Bryant Hobart sold in our New York rooms, 12^th December 1969, lot 214; a slightly larger example sold in our Hong Kong rooms, 5^th November 1997, lot 1358; and another sold at Christie's Hong Kong, 28^th November 2005, lot 1409.

A fragmentary dish of this pattern, of slightly larger size, excavated from the Ming imperial kiln site, was included in the exhibition Imperial Hongwu and Yongle Porcelain Excavated at Jingdezhen, Chang Foundation, Taipei, 1996, cat. no. 53.