A FINE AND LARGE BLUE AND WHITE 'QILIN' DISHQING DYNASTY, SHUNZHI PERIOD |

stoutly potted with rounded sides rising from a short tapered and chaneled foot, the interior boldly painted in strong tones of cobalt blue with an animated qilin sitting on its scaly back haunches, one front leg outstretched, the other with hoof raised, bearing a benign expression, the head gazing forward with bulging eyes and mouth agape revealing sharp fangs and emitting wisps of qi, the foreground with auspicious hoofprints of the mythological beast and a beribboned artemisia leaf, all amidst rockwork and a lush plantain tree, the underside with three further auspicious symbols, the rim dressed in an iron-oxide wash, the base undecorated save for a drilled collector's mark da zhai, coll. no. 1387

Spink & Sons, Ltd., London.
Ralph M. Chait Galleries, Inc., New York, 2001.

The dish is in good condition with light wear consistent with age.
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.

For a dish of similar size, subject matter and quality, see the example in the Palace Museum, Beijing illustrated in Gugong Bowuyuan Cang Qingdai Ciqi Leixuan Qing Shunzhi Kangxi Chao Qinghuaci [Selected Chinese Ceramics from the Palace Museum: Blue and White Ceramics in Shunzhi and Kangxi Periods], vol. I, Beijing, 2004, pl. 20 and, another in the Butler Family Collection, illustrated in Shunzhi Porcelain, Treasures from an Unknown Reign, Seattle and London, 2002, cat. no. 13.