A LARGE FAMILLE-VERTE 'LOTUS' FISHBOWLQING DYNASTY, KANGXI PERIOD |

stoutly potted, of deep U-shape, richly enameled around the exterior with an auspicious depiction of a resplendent lotus pond featuring broad leaves with curling edges and delicate veining, straining slender stems issuing brightly colored buds and lush blossoms, all emerging from placid waters enlivened by small waterbirds paddling along the surface, perching elegantly on foliage and flying overhead, the base unglazed, coll. no. 215

Cohen & Cohen, London, 2001.

Jeffrey P. Stamen, Cynthia Volk with Yibin Ni, A Culture Revealed, Kangxi-Era Chinese Porcelain from the Jie Rui Tang Collection, Bruges, 2017, cat. no. 72.

Restoration to the overglaze blue enamels, scattered areas of blistered enamel, with expected wear and glaze flaws consistent with age and use.
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.

Vibrantly painted, the verdant subject matter is apt as a vessel for fish and additionally replete with auspicious meaning, the lotus being associated with longevity, integrity and harmony. The benevolent subject matter is further heightened by the exaggerated scale of the flowers which are enormous in relation to the birds which gather among them.  A fish bowl of the same form and subject matter but painted in underglaze-blue was sold in our London rooms 14th May 2014, lot 220. For a related form, see a Kangxi period famille-verte vase decorated with egrets, butterflies and insects amidst a lotus pond, illustrated in The Complete Collection of Treasures of the Palace Museum. Porcelain in Polychrome and Contrasting Colours, Hong Kong, 1999, pl. 81.