A FINE DOUCAI 'FLORAL' BOWL SEAL MARK AND PERIOD OF QIANLONG

the deep rounded sides rising from a straight foot to a gently everted rim, finely decorated on the interior with a medallion of composite iron red, white and blue-petalled flowers encircled by a band of diaper cells enclosing red florets and further wreathed by interlocked blue and green strapwork, the exterior with six similar clusters of flowers springing from the foot and framed by interlocked foliate and budded scrolls forming strapwork panels, all below a yellow-ground band of underglaze blue ruyi at the rim, the base inscribed with a six-character seal mark in underglaze blue

There is some firing impurities that developed around the green enamel in a small area near the rim on one side, but otherwise the bowl is in very good condition.
"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."

Two closely related bowls were sold in these rooms, one, 2^nd May 2000, lot 735, and the other, 28^th November 1992, lot 168. This lotus bouquet design was a Yongzheng innovation that was reproduced by successive Qing emperors; see two Yongzheng prototypes in the Palace Museum, Beijing, illustrated in The Complete Collection of Treasures of the Palace Museum. Porcelains in Polychrome and Contrasting Colours, Hong Kong, 1999, pls 224-25; and a pair of bowls from the Edward T. Chow collection, sold in these room, 25^th November 1980, lot 128. A Jiaqing example, in the Nanjing Museum, is published in The Official Kiln Porcelain of the Chinese Qing Dynasty, Shanghai, 2003, p. 362; and a Daoguang version, from the Simon Kwan collection, was included in the exhibition Imperial Porcelain of the Late Qing, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong 1983, cat. no. 28.