A FINE PAIR OF SMALL DOUCAI 'HUNDRED-BAT' BOWLS MARK AND PERIOD OF YONGZHENG

each thinly potted with rounded sides resting elegantly on a tapered foot, finely painted on the exterior with twelve bats picked out in shaded iron-red swooping amidst scrolling clouds in pale tones of aubergine, blue, green, yellow and iron-red, the countersunk base inscribed in underglaze-blue with a six-character reign mark within double circles

Christie's Hong Kong, 29th April 1996, lot 757.

The overall condition of the pair is very good without scratches to the enamelling or visible damages.
"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 pair of doucai bowls of the same size and design was sold in these rooms, 29^th November 1979, lot 271; another from the Paul and Helen Bernat collection was sold in these rooms, 15^th November 1988, lot 1; and a third pair was sold twice at Christie's Hong Kong, 29^th April 2002, lot 619, and again, 27^th May 2009, lot 1585. Compare also a pair of bowls of similar form and design, but decorated with iron-red bats amid underglaze-blue clouds, from the Edward T. Chow collection, sold in these rooms, 25^th November 1980, lot 126.

The motif of bats and clouds represents the wish for 'vast happiness piled up to the sky', while the combination of a red bat with coloured clouds symbolise the upper limits of heaven (hongfu qitian). The clouds also form a pun, as the word for 'cloud' (yun) is homophonous with the word for 'luck'. See a Qianlong doucai jar covered with the same decorative scheme, included in the exhibition Joined Colours: Decoration and Meaning in Chinese Porcelain, Smithsonian Institution, Washington D.C., 1993, cat. no. 71.