A FAMILLE-VERTE 'PEACH AND LONGEVITY' DISH MARK AND PERIOD OF KANGXI

sturdily potted with shallow rounded sides, rising from a tapered foot to a slightly everted rim, brightly enamelled on the interior with a large peach borne on a leafy branch, inscribed on the fruit with the gilt-characters wanshou ('longevity'), the exterior similarly painted with three peach sprays with shou characters in gilt, the countersunk base inscribed in underglaze blue with a six-character reign mark within a double-circle

Acquired before 1984.

There is a hairline crack of about 2.8 cm to the mouthrim. Apart from some minor surface scratches and burst air bubbles, the overall condition of the dish is quite good. Most of the enamelling and gilt decoration is well preserved.
"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."

Dishes of this design are rare although one in the Palace Museum, Beijing, is illustrated in Kangxi. Yongzheng. Qianlong. Qing Imperial Porcelain from the Palace Museum Collection, Hong Kong, 1989, p. 70, pl. 53; another from the Sir Percival David collection, and now in the British Museum, London, is published in Oriental Ceramics. The World's Great Collections, vol. 6, Tokyo, 1982, pl. 218; and a third example was sold in our London rooms, 5^th December 1995, lot 306.

Dishes of this type were made for the Kangxi emperor as ten thousand longevities could only be designated for the emperor and empresses of China. Wanshou, which means 'ten thousand longevities', written inside a peach represents the wish, 'May the immortal peach grant you longevity (wanshou wujiang)'.