AN EXTREMELY LARGE AND RARE BLUE AND YELLOW 'NINE PEACH' CHARGER CHUXIUGONG MARK, GUANGXU PERIOD |

stoutly potted, with gently rounded sides rising from a short foot, painted in deep tones of underglaze blue with a central medallion enclosing a gnarled peach tree, its two principal branches extending around the border of the panel, issuing nine ripening peaches, the reverse with a continuous scroll of morning glory, all reserved on a rich lemon-yellow ground stopping neatly around the four-character Chu xiu gong zhi seal mark, reserved in a white cartouche 

Collection of Gustav Detring (1842-1913) or Constantin von Hanneken (1854-1925), and thence by descent. 

Chinesischekunst/Exhibition of Chinese Art, Berlin, 1929, cat. no. 723. 

In overall good condition, except for an approx. 0.5 cm wide frit to the rim. Some general wear and minor firing imperfections, consistent with age and 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.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING CONDITION OF A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE PRINTED IN THE CATALOGUE.

The Chuxiugong (Palace of Gathering Elegance) is one of the six Western palaces in the Forbidden City, favored by the Empress Dowager Cixi and her chief residence between 1856 and 1885. Ronald W. Longsdorf in ‘The Tongzhi Imperial Wedding Porcelain’, Orientations, October 1996, p. 70, notes that Cixi had the palace refurbished on her 50th birthday in 1884, with luxurious objects of monumental size, many modeled after prototypes from the 18th century.  The design of nine peaches in underglaze blue and yellow enamel is derived from Yongzheng and Qianlong period porcelains. Compare a smaller Yongzheng dish in the Percival David Collection at the British Museum, illustrated in Margaret Medley, Illustrated Catalogue of Ming Polychrome Wares, London, 1978, pl. A795. Another dish of the same size, but Qianlong mark and period, in the National Palace Museum, Taipei, is illustrated in Porcelain of the National Palace Museum. Blue-and-White Ware of the Ch'ing Dynasty, Hong Kong, 1968, pls 29a-b. 

Three smaller dishes of this design and bearing Chuxiugong marks are known. The first, in the Baur Collection, Geneva (64.7 cm diameter), is illustrated in John Ayers, The Baur Collection. Chinese Ceramics, vol. 4, Geneva, 1974, pl. A586. Another, formerly in the collection of Captain Otto Löffler (48.3 cm diameter), was sold at Christie's London, 8th November 2005, lot 170. A third, 27cm diameter, sold in our Paris rooms, 9th June 2011, lot 203.