A FINE PAIR OF DOUCAI 'ANBAXIAN' BOWLS MARKS AND PERIOD OF YONGZHENG |

each well potted with flared sides rounding from a short foot, the exterior finely painted with the anbaxian emblems, each rendered with fluttering ribbons alternately coloured in green and iron red, all above a band of ruyi heads encircling the base and below a narrow frieze of interlocking 'C'-shaped motifs around the rim, the interior centred with a medallion enclosing a spray of peaches repeated at the rim, the base inscribed in underglaze blue with a six-character reign mark within a double circle

The bowls are in very good condition.
"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."

This pair of bowls is remarkable for its dynamic and detailed rendering of the anbaxian (Eight Secret Emblems), with flattering ribbons painted in two different colours. A closely related bowl is illustrated in The Tsui Museum of Art. Chinese Ceramics IV, Hong Kong, 1995, pl. 139, where the author suggests that bowls of this type were made in the early part of the Yongzheng reign, before the appointment of Nian Xiyao (1617-1738) as Superintendent of Customs and Director of the Jingdezhen imperial kilns in 1726, p. 67. A closely related pair of bowls from the T.Y. Chao collection was included in the exhibition Ch’ing Porcelain from the Wah Kwong Collection, Hong Kong, 1973, cat. no. 89; another pair was sold twice in these rooms, 1st November 1999, lot 366 and, 10th April 2006, lot 1792; and a further pair was sold at Christie’s Hong Kong, 25th October 1993, lot 842. See also two bowls sold in these rooms, the first, 27th April 1999, lot 434, and the second in 1983, 1990 and 30th October 2000, lot 164.

This motif is also known painted in underglaze blue, such as a Yongzheng mark and period bowl in the Nanjing Museum, illustrated in Xu Huping ed., Treasures in the Royalty. The Official Kiln Porcelain of the Chinese Qing Dynasty, Shanghai, 2003, pl. 170.