A Rare Blue and White 'Lotus Scroll' 'Mantouxin' Bowl Mark and Period of Yongzheng

elegantly potted with rounded sides rising from a recessed base, the exterior finely decorated with a lotus scroll issuing leafy tendrils and eight lotus blossoms, the interior centred with a domed medallion enclosing a stylised lotus bloom with ruyi-shaped petals and leaves, a band of eight petals encircling the medallion, enclosing and issuing a lotus blossom in an alternating manner, the recessed base inscribed with a six-character reign mark within double circles

There is a 2cm underglaze stress line in the body.
"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."

The present 'Mantouxin' bowl is unusual for its combination of decorative motifs; although floral scrolls were a popular design the rendering of the blooms with their long stamen, the lotus on this piece is atypical of the period. Similarly, the Tibetan-inspired rosette adorning the interior of the bowl is rarely found on contemporary wares and may derive from archetypal Yongle and Xuande moonflasks, such as one exhibited in in Imperial Hongwu and Yongle Porcelain Excavated at Jingdezhen, Kaohsiung Museum of Fine Arts, Taipei, 1996, cat. no. 65.