AN UNDERGLAZE-BLUE AND YELLOW-ENAMEL 'GARDENIA' DISH MARK AND PERIOD OF HONGZHI

the shallow rounded sides rising from a tapered foot to an everted rim, freely painted in shaded tones of cobalt reserved on a rich yellow ground, the interior with a slightly recessed medallion enclosing a leafy branch bearing two five-petalled gardenia blooms and a tightly closed bud, encircled on the cavetto by fruiting branches of pomegranate, grape, crab apple and a beribboned lotus bouquet, all between double-line borders, the underside with a continuous scroll of seven large blooming roses borne on a foliate stem, between double lines at the rim and foot, the convex base left white and inscribed in underglaze blue with a six-character reign mark within double circles

A private Japanese collection.

There is a 3 cm. hairline crack at 10 o'clock to the rim and another approx 2 cm. at 7 o'clock. There is another hairline crack on the cavetto across the grape nearby (approx 2.5 cm.), not reaching the rim but going through to the underside approx. 1 cm. There are some light scratches and wear to the surface glaze on the interior but otherwise the dish is in 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."

This striking gardenia design in underglaze blue against a vivid yellow ground was first produced in the Xuande period through to the Jiajing reign, with the peak of production probably in the Hongzhi period. Closely related Hongzhi examples include one in the Palace Museum, Beijing, published in The Complete Collection of Treasures of the Palace Museum. Blue and White Porcelain with Underglazed Red (II), Shanghai, 2000, pl. 231; one from the Carl Kempe collection, illustrated in Oriental Ceramics. The World’s Great Collections, vol. 8, Tokyo, 1982, pl. 226; another in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, included ibid, vol. 11, col. pl. 16; another from the Sir Percival David Collection and now in the British Museum, London, published in Margaret Medley, The Chinese Potter, Oxford, 1976, pl. 168; and a fifth dish from the Meiyintang Collection, sold in these rooms, 7^th April 2011, pl. 57.

For Xuande and Chenghua prototypes in the British Museum, London, see Jessica Harrison-Hall, Ming Ceramics in the British Museum, London, 2001, pls. 4:43 and 6:16. A Zhengde and an extremely rare Jiajing example, both from the Meiyintang collection, are illustrated in Regina Krahl, Chinese Ceramics from the Meiyintang Collection, London, 1994-2010, vol.2, pls. 683 and 684 (The Zhengdhe dish sold in these rooms 9th October 2012, lot 43, and the Jiajing dish is currently being offered in these rooms in The Meiyintang Collection, Part V sale, lot 27).