A MASSIVE GREEN-GROUND CHARGER GUANGXU MARK AND PERIOD

the interior centered by a shou medallion encircled by five bats on a turquoise ground and further bordered by iron-red ruyi-heads, the cavetto similarly painted with eight evenly spaced shou medallions encircled by bats, all reserved on a lime-green ground scattered with fruiting peach branches and wan symbols below a keyfret border and two rows of ruyi-head borders, the exterior similarly decorated, the base left plain but for an incised four-character Guangxu mark

Generally good condition with some gilt rubbing to the rim. There is considerably firing speckling to the green ground under the rim originaly to the piece.
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.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING CONDITION OF A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE PRINTED IN THE CATALOGUE.

The present charger, though bearing a Guangxu reign mark, is identical to charger with a Chuxiugong zhi mark sold at Christie's Hong Kong, 3rd December 2008, lot 2223.

According to Ronald Longsdorf in 'The Tongzhi Imperial Wedding Porcelain', Orientations, October 1996, pp. 69 - 78, it is not uncommon to find examples of porcelain designed for the Dowager Empress Cixi to bear Guangxu or Tongzhi marks. Longsdorf also states that dishes made for the Chuxiugong (the Palace of Harboring Grace) were often monumental in scale as they were based on the prototype from the Kangxi period.