AN INCISED AND ANHUA-DECORATED WHITE-GLAZED BOWL MING DYNASTY, YONGLE PERIOD

of deep almost conical form rising from a straight foot, the exterior incised with a wide band of floral scroll bearing three chrysanthemum blossoms alternating with peonies amidst foliage, buds and smaller blooms, below a keyfret border around the rim, the interior decorated in the anhua technique with slender, pointed lotus petals radiating from a medallion of two chrysanthemums on a single leafy stalk and rising to a narrow wave scroll collar below the rim, the shallow ring foot enclosing a plain, pointed base, the white glaze of even tone thinning slightly at the lip

Collection of Dr. Ip Yee.

Sotheby's Hong Kong, 19th November 1984, lot 194.

Monochrome Ceramics of Ming and Ch'ing Dynasties, Hong Kong Museum of Art, Hong Kong, 1977, cat. no. 128.

Jingdezhen Wares. The Yuan Evolution Exhibition, Fung Ping Shan Museum, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, 1984, cat. no. 157.

In excellent condition. Very small glaze inclusions to the centre of the interior and approximately 5 firing imperfections to the exterior, showing as raised protrusions. Minor surface wear.
"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."

This elegantly formed bowl is finely decorated in the subtle anhua technique, a technique that is peculiar to the early Ming period where the designs appear to have been impressed into a thin layer of slip under the glaze. This faint shadow was often only visible when held against the light. Such decorative innovations were only possible with the significant developments in porcelain production during the Yongle period and can be seen in the refinement of white wares, resulting in smooth, creamy and semi-translucent vessels suitable for their ritual purposes.

A closely related bowl is illustrated in Regina Krahl, Chinese Ceramics from the Meiyintang Collection, vol. II, London, 1994, pl. 649, together with a Yongle blue and white bowl of the same form but with the decoration reversed, the flower scroll painted around the interior and the slender lotus petals on the exterior, pl. 670. Further related bowls include one published in Regina Krahl, Chinese Ceramics in the Topkapi Saray Museum, Istanbul, vol. II, London, 1986, pl. 632; another from the Mrs Alfred Clark and Luff collections, sold twice in these rooms, 24^th March 1953, lot 39, and 25^th June 1973, lot 247, and included in the Oriental Ceramic Society exhibition The Arts of the Ming Dynasty, London, 1957, cat. no. 90; and a third example from the M.C. Wang, Edward T. Chow and Mathias Komor collections, sold at Christie's New York, 20^th September 2001, lot 133.