A RARE DOUCAI 'BUTTERFLY AND PEONY' DISH QIANLONG SEAL MARK AND PERIOD

the interior finely painted with two butterflies above iron-red, yellow and white flowering tree-peony growing with smaller bamboo plants and lingzhi from the base of a blue rock, all within a double-line border and single line at the rim, the reverse with two butterflies separating groups of peonies, asters, chrysanthemum and dianthus each emerging from behind blue rocks, six-character seal mark in underglaze blue

Collection of Dr. Richard and Mrs. Mary Eckhardt acquired in Japan between 1947-1952 while Dr. Eckhardt was serving as a surgeon in the United States Army and thence by descent.

There are some small restored chips to the rim edge, one of which extends into a short haircrack. There are several small burst air bubbles to the rim edge and some wear to the enamels in the center, most notably on the white flower.
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.

It is unusual to find a dish of this rare design bearing a Qianlong reign mark. The very few published examples bear six-character Yongzheng reign marks and exhibit expected differences in the execution of the pattern, the most apparent of which are not including lingzhi sprigs, and a somewhat different treatment of the rockwork. A Qianlong-marked dish was offered at Christie's Hong Kong, 1st November 2004, lot 1109, whilst a pair of Yongzheng-marked examples from the Collection of Doctor and Madame Ho-Ching Yang was sold in these rooms, 17th March 2009, lot 10.