A FINE AND LARGE CELADON-GLAZED BOWL CARVED WITH FLOWER AND FRUIT SPRAYS SEAL MARK AND PERIOD OF QIANLONG

the deep rounded sides rising from a straight foot to a wide flaring rim, the exterior exquisitely carved and emphasized with incised details with the flowers of the four seasons, depicting branches of peony with attendant smaller flowers, a spray of lotus with large blooms, buds and a pad, a sprig of hibiscus together with asters, and a prunus branch and camellias, all rising from above the foot and interspersed with fruiting boughs of peach, lychee, pomegranate and finger citron, covered overall with a deep sea-green celadon glaze thinning to a paler tone on the carved areas and at the rim, the interior left uncarved, the base inscribed with a six-character seal mark in underglaze blue

Jingguantang Collection, The Tsui Museum of Art, Hong Kong.
Christie’s Hong Kong, 3rd November 1996, lot 570.
Eskenazi Ltd, London.

The Tsui Museum of Art, Hong Kong, 1991, pl. 127.
The Tsui Museum of Art. Chinese Ceramics IV: Qing Dynasty, Hong Kong, 1995, pl. 36.
Regina Krahl, Chinese Ceramics from the Meiyintang Collection, London, 1994-2010, vol. 4, no. 1804.

The bowl is overall in very good condition with only a few minor pinholes, a few light scratches and crackles on the interior. The actual colour is consistent with the catalogue illustration.
"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."

Bowls of this form and with this design of flowers and fruits of the four seasons were made in both Yongzheng (AD 1723-35) and Qianlong (AD 1736-95) periods, the former also with the reign mark inscribed in seal script, but usually with a celadon glaze of more bluish tone. A Yongzheng example from the Anthony de Rothschild collection is illustrated in Regina Krahl, The Anthony de Rothschild Collection of Chinese Ceramics, vol. 2, n. p., 1996, no. 144; another from the Hall Family Collection was sold in these rooms, 2nd May 2000, lot 543.