A FINE AND UNUSUAL DOUCAI SHALLOW TRIPOD DISH SEAL MARK AND PERIOD OF QIANLONG

of shallow octagonal form with bracketed corners, supported on three bulbous cabriole legs, the interior painted with a central radiating medallion of stylised flowers and foliage, the cavetto further painted with a band of multi-coloured florettes above a band of green pendant trefoils, the exterior vividly decorated with eight panels of alternating stylised hibiscus and camellia flowers with acanthus leaf borders, the feet each with a yellow flower head, the base inscribed with a six-character reign mark in underglaze blue

The overall condition is very good. There are a few very minor areas of glaze fritting to the edge of the rim and just some very light scratches to the enamelling on the interior. There is a 2mm piece of kiln grit on the interior near the centre (fired light brown) and visible in the catalogue illustration.
"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."

Although doucai vessels were usually not individually produced, the present bowl represents an extremely rare design of which no other example appears to be recorded. The shape is better known from blue-and-white and monochrome porcelains and originated in the Yongzheng period. A blue-and-white tripod bowl of this form of Qianlong mark and period was sold in these rooms 17th November 1975, lot 56. A bowl of similar form of Yongzheng mark and period with a monochrome 'sky-blue' glaze in the Palace Museum, Beijing, is published in Geng Baochang, ed., Gugong Bowuyuan cang Qingdai yuyao ciqi [Porcelains from the Qing dynasty imperial kilns in the Palace Museum collection], Beijing, 2005, vol. i, part ii, pl. 205;  another Yongzheng bowl with a 'guan' glaze from the collection of Dr. Carl Kempe, illustrated in Oriental Ceramics: The World's Great Collections, vol. VIII, Tokyo, New York, and San Francisco, 1982, no. 274, was sold in our London rooms 5th November 2008, lot 601; a 'guan'-glazed example of Qianlong mark and period is illustrated in Regina Krahl, Chinese Ceramics from the Meiyintang Collection, vol. 4, London, 2010, pl. 1801.