A FINE YELLOW-GROUND 'BATS' BOWL MARK AND PERIOD OF YONGZHENG

the steep rounded sides supported on a flared foot, incised around the exterior with twelve iron-red and white bats in flight, each holding a pale-green double-gourd suspended from a blue ribbon in its beak, set amidst swirling green clouds with incised detailing, all between a band of interlinked ruyi-heads at the rim and a band of upright lappets at the foot, covered overall in a lemon-yellow ground, inscribed to the base with a six-character mark within a double circle in underglaze-blue

The bowl is in overall very good condition, except for two 2 mm underglaze chips to the rim resulting from original firing.
"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 closely related example in the Palace Museum, Beijing, is illustrated in Qingdai yuyao ciqi, vol. I, pt. II, Beijing, 2005, pl. 66; one from the Constantinidi collection is published in Soame Jenyns, Later Chinese Porcelain, London, 1951, pl. LXIX, fig. 3; two were sold in these rooms, one from the collection of the British Rail Pension Fund, 16^th May 1989, lot 78, and the other, 25^th April 2004, lot 231; and a pair of bowls, one from the Elphinstone collection, was sold in our London rooms, 7^th June 1994, lot 390.