A RARE CLOISONNE ENAMEL AND GILT-BRONZE ALMS BOWL INCISED MARK AND PERIOD OF JINGTAI |

sturdily cast with a tapered body surmounted by a broad rounded shoulder below a short lipped rim, the exterior decorated in bright cloisonné enamels with a broad frieze of lotus blooms, each flower rendered with mutli-coloured petals and borne on a meandering leafy stem, the rich design further accentuated with smaller attendant budding blossoms, against a bright turquoise ground, all above a band of stylised upright lappets skirting the lower body, the interior and flat base gilded, the base incised with a vertical six-character reign mark

Good overall condition, with just some retouching to the enamels, particularly the turquoise. There is a minor crack at the rim and a 1cm dent to the base. Other minor bruising, rubbing to the gilding and general surface wear.
"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."

Cloisonné enamel alms bowls of this size and quality dating to the 15th century are rare. The closest related example at auction is a slightly larger alms bowl of near identical decoration, differing from the current example with a narrower band of lappets at the foot, sold at Christie’s Hong Kong, 29th May 2007, lot 1435. This classic design of lotus flowers is found on several examples dating to the Xuande period. See a Xuande reign-marked disc originally in the collections of Stephen Winkworth and Sir Percival David, now in the Uldry collection at the Rietberg Museum, illustrated in Helmut Brinker and Albert Lutz, Chinese cloisonné: The Pierre Uldry Collection, London, 1989, pl. 1

There has been speculation in the past that Jingtai reign-marked wares of the quality of the current alms bowl, stylistically similar to Xuande wares, are in fact of the Xuande period but with later incised marks. The delicately incised Jingtai six-character mark on the current vessel is similar to that on a circular cloisonné enamel box and cover in the National Palace Museum, Taipei, similarly enamelled with lotus flowers, and catalogued as Jingtai mark and period, illustrated in Enamel Ware in the Ming and Ch'ing Dynasty, National Palace Museum, Taipei, 1999, cat. no. 1. It is also related to the Jingtai mark on the dish from the Speelman collection, sold in these rooms, 3rd April 2018, lot 3406.