A BLUE AND WHITE ANHUA-DECORATED 'DRAGON AND PHOENIX' BOWL QING DYNASTY, KANGXI PERIOD |

the rounded sides springing from a short, slightly splayed foot, to a gently flaring rim, deftly painted on the exterior with three phoenix in flight with wings outspread and trailing long, flowing tail feathers, the interior finely incised with a pair of sinuous dragons each in pursuit of a 'flaming pearl' among scattered clouds and flames, encircling an underglaze-blue central medallion of a carp rising from waves, the base with an apocryphal six-character Chenghua mark, coll. no. 1460

Collection of George (1911-1989) and Cornelia Wingfield Digby .
Sotheby's Olympia, 12th June 2003, lot 1103.
Geoffrey Waters, Ltd., London, 2003.

The bowl is in overall good condition. There is a small restored shallow chip to the rim with an associated area of overspray. The surface with expected minor wear and glaze flaws 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.

This bowl is of a type, unique to the Kangxi period, that appears both with an imperial Kangxi reign mark and with an apocryphal Chenghua mark, as on the present example. Similar bowls with a Kangxi reign mark include one sold in our London rooms, 2nd November 1974, lot 548, and another in our Hong Kong rooms, 21st May 1980, lot 192. A pair of nearly identical bowls with Chenghua marks was sold in our Hong Kong rooms, 17th November 1975, lot 65. See also a related pair of bowls, Kangxi mark and period but lacking anhua decoration, was sold in our Hong Kong rooms, 5th April 2017, lot 3680.