A FINE AND RARE BLUE AND WHITE FRUIT BOWL MARK AND PERIOD OF XUANDE

well potted with low rounded sides supported on a slightly tapered foot, the thick walls brightly decorated around the exterior in deep tones of cobalt with a composite flowering scroll issuing eight different blooms including lotus, chrysanthemum, rose, tree peony, pomegranate, hibiscus, camellia and herbaceous peony, each flower depicted with its corresponding leaves, above a border of petal lappets and a 'classic' scroll encircling the foot, the interior and the base left white, the footring unglazed, inscribed in underglaze blue with a six-character horizontal reign mark below the rim

Regina Krahl, Chinese Ceramics from the Meiyintang Collection, London, 1994-2010, vol. 2, no. 673.

There are a few minor firing flaws and light scratches on the surface glaze. There is an original 2.5 cm. horizontal body line under the glaze on the exterior between two flowers on one side. Otherwise the bowl is in extremely 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."

Heavily potted bowls of this type, with walls of even thickness, which must have been very difficult to fire successfully, are characteristic of the Xuande reign. Four bowls of this shape with different designs from the Tianminlou collection were included in the exhibition Chinese Porcelain. The S.C. Ko Tianminlou Collection, Hong Kong Museum of Art, Hong Kong, 1987, cat. nos. 25-8, one of them, no. 26, identical in design to the present piece.

A bowl of this pattern in the National Palace Museum, Taipei, is illustrated in Minji meihin zuroku [Illustrated catalogue of important Ming porcelains], Tokyo, 1977-78, vol. 1, pl. 59; a similar bowl in the Capital Museum, Beijing, is published in Zhongguo taoci quanji [Complete series on Chinese ceramics], Shanghai, 1999-2000, vol. 12, pl. 64; and another in Fujioka Ryoichi and Hasebe Gakuji, eds, Sekai tōji zenshū/Ceramic Art of the World, vol. 14: Min/Ming Dynasty, Tokyo, 1976, pls. 25 and 26; one from the collection of H.R.H. Palmer, published in Sir Harry Garner, Oriental Blue and White, London, 1954, pl. 26 a, was sold in these rooms 29th April 1997, lot 406; one from the collection of Major Lindsay F. Hay was sold in our London rooms 25th June 1946, lot 29 and again in our New York rooms, from the estate of Chite S. Lee, 25th October 1975, lot 177; at Christie’s London, 7th June 1993, lot 47, and at Christie’s Hong Kong 28th October 2002, lot 692.