A VERY FINE AND LARGE DOUCAI 'LOTUS' DISH MARK AND PERIOD OF YONGZHENG

well potted with shallow rounded sides rising from a gently tapered foot to a flared rim, the interior superbly painted with five large Indian lotus blooms, each with iron-red petals opening to reveal a mottled yellow centre with upright green lappets, wreathed around by scrolling leafy tendrils, all within a double-line border repeated at the rim, the exterior similarly decorated with eight further lotus blooms on leafy tendrils, below a band of 'C'-scrolls alternating with dots at the rim, the foot encircled by line borders, the base with an underglaze-blue six-character reign mark within a double-circle

Collection of William Cleverley Alexander, England, probably purchased in the late 19th century.
S. Marchant & Son, London.

Recent Acquisitions 2008, S. Marchant & Son, London, 2008, cat. no. 36. 

The dish is in overall exceptionally fine condition with only occasional insignificant surface wear. The enamels have been generally very well preserved. This piece is an outstanding example of its type.
"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."

Impressive for its large size and rich, complex design of lotus blooms amongst foliate scrolls, the unusual rendition of lotuses on this dish reflects the level of artistic innovation allowed by craftsmen working in the Yongzheng period. With the developments in porcelain production and the Emperor’s desire to create refined designs that were based on celebrated wares from China’s history, highly original compositions that were rooted in the past were produced. These lotuses appear to be inspired by Chenghua designs which featured bright red petals around a centre of yellow and green, as seen on a stemcup, from the Wu Lai Hsi, Carl Kempe and Meiyintang Collections, sold in these rooms, 5th October 2011, lot 28. The green leaves are reminiscent of Western acanthus leaves and demonstrate the level of cultural exchange during the Qing dynasty.

This dish diverges slightly from typical doucai wares as the lotus blooms have not been pencilled in underglaze blue. Instead, they are outlined in razor-sharp iron red, creating an eye-catching contrast between them and the softer underglaze-blue lines. A closely related dish, in the Tokyo National Museum, was included in the Museum’s exhibition Chinese Arts of the Ming and Ch’ing Periods, 1963, Tokyo, cat. no. 413; one in the Chang Foundation, Taipei, is illustrated in James Spencer, Selected Chinese Ceramics from Han to Qing Dynasties, Taipei, 1990, pl. 135; another from the collection of W.G. Gulland, now in the Victoria and Albert Museum, London, is published in John Ayers, Far Eastern Ceramics in the Victoria and Albert Museum, London, 1980, pl. 210; and a fourth dish is illustrated in Mayuyama, Seventy Years, Tokyo, 1976, vol. 1, pl. 1067. Further dishes of this design and size were sold at auction.

Dishes of this type are also known in slightly smaller sizes; see a dish included in the Exhibition of Ch’ing Porcelain from the Wah Kwong Collection, Hong Kong, 1973, cat. no. 88; another from the collection of Paul and Helen Bernat, sold in these rooms, 15th November 1988, lot 16; and a pair from the collection of Stephen Junkunc III, sold at Christie’s New York, 21st November 1995, lot 258.