A LARGE BLUE AND WHITE 'MANDARIN DUCK' FISH BOWL WANLI MARK AND PERIOD

sturdily potted, with deep rounded sides painted in soft tones of underglaze blue with a continuous scene of ducks swimming amongst flowering lotus, arrow grass and other aquatic weeds, all below a border of florets reserved against a stylised wave band at the rim, interrupted by a rectangular cartouche enclosing the six-character reign mark, the top of the rim further painted with a detached band of foliate scrolls

This large and impressive bowl is in good condition with the exception of overpainting to a circa 2cm., wide band around approximately half of the luting line and encircling the base, restoration to a drilled hole in the base, rubbing and scratching to the glaze predominantly to the interior and minor glaze firing imperfections.
"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 basin is notable for its impressive size and delicate painting of mandarin ducks swimming in a lotus pond. This motif originated in the Tang dynasty (618-906), and was adopted by the Jingdezhen potters during the Yuan dynasty (1271-1368), when it was found on large blue and white dishes. Its popularity continued into the Ming dynasty (1368-1644) and variations to the original design were developed to include other birds.

Wanli mark and period fishbowls painted with this variation of the lotus pond motif with mandarin ducks, egrets and other birds, are more commonly known decorated in wucai enamels; see one included in the exhibition Chinese Arts of the Ming and Ch’ing Periods, Tokyo National Museum, Tokyo, 1963, cat. no. 365; and two sold in these rooms, the first, 13^th June 1989, lot 236, and the second, 12^th June 2003, lot 151. See also slightly smaller unmarked blue and white fishbowls painted with a related design, such as one sold in these rooms, 17^th December 1980, lot 614; another, sold in our Hong Kong rooms, 28^th November 1979, lot 99; and a third, sold at Christie’s London, 15^th December 1980, lot 116.

For an earlier version of this motif, see a blue and white fishbowl with a Jiajing (1521-1567) mark and of the period, in the Shanghai Museum, Shanghai, illustrated in Lu Minghua, Mindai guanyao ciqi [Imperial porcelain of the Ming dynasty], Shanghai, 2007, pl. 1-57.