A RARE MASSIVE 'LONGQUAN' CELADON CHARGER MING DYNASTY, HONGWU / YONGLE PERIOD

of foliate shape, the heavily potted fluted sides rising from a sturdy ring foot to the everted bracket rim, the interior carved with a large peony flower issuing from leafy stems, the cavetto with Indian lotus sprigs below foliate meander around the rim, the exterior with a band of joined lotus petals, all under a thick and lustrous celadon glaze, the firing ring on the underside oxidized to orange

There is a repaired chip to to the rim at approximately 11 o'clock with the dish oriented as in the catalogue photo. The area was previously restored. The overspray has been cleaned off to reveal two shallow chips approx 3 1/2 inches (9cm) long stuck back in on the underside of the rim and a corresponding shallow chip stuck back in approx 1 1/2 inches (3.8cm) long on the upper rim edge. Small losses along the lines of the breaks have been filled. A fine haircrack extends approximately 2 inches (5.2cm) from the center of the repair towards the center of the dish. The rim also has a very small bruise to the glaze at approximately 9 o'clock with an associated 1/4 inch (6mm) haircrack. Otherwise in very good condition with typical occasional light surface scratches
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 is impressive for its spectacular large size and the finely rendered design of a leafy peony branch that is delicately enclosed within bands of scrolling flowers. It belongs to a group of high-quality Longquan celadon wares produced in the late 14th to early 15th centuries that were characterized by their bold carved designs that are comparable with the blue and white porcelain contemporary to their time. During the early Ming dynasty, the Longquan kilns appear to have worked closely with the imperial porcelain kilns at Jingdezhen, thus making wares of similar form, decoration and quality.

Compare a charger of similar large size and form, but decorated with a flower head surrounded by a lotus meander on the interior and with the bajixiang at the well, published in Regina Krahl, Chinese Ceramics in the Topkapi Saray Museum, Istanbul, 1986, vol. 1, pl. 245; one sold in our Hong Kong rooms, 9th October 2007, lot 1519; another formerly from the Edward T. Chow and T.Y. Chao collections, sold in our London rooms, 16th December 1980, lot 329, and again in our Hong Kong rooms, 19th May 1987, lot 219; and a fourth example sold at Christie's New York, 20th September 2005, lot 244. For an undecorated charger of this form and size see one illustrated in Chinese Ceramics from the Idemitsu Collection, Tokyo, 1987, pl. 595.