A RARE FAMILLE-VERTE DISH MARK AND PERIOD OF KANGXI |

of shallow form, supported on a short tapering foot rising to an everted rim, brightly enamelled to the interior with a seated lady fanning a fire of branches and rocks, the flames vividly rendered in iron red with rising smoke, her attendant standing behind holding further branches, encircled at the rim with five butterflies alternating with floral sprays, the base with a six-character reign mark in underglaze blue within a double circle

Collection of Dr Ho-Ching Yang (1900-1964).
Sotheby's New York, 17th March 2009, lot 1 (one of a pair).

Recent Acquisitions, Marchant, London, 2010, cat. no. 23 (one of a pair).

There are two small areas of misfiring at the rim (largest 0.6cm). There is a minute scratch to the underside at the 11 o clock position.
"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."

A similar dish with three standing ladies, from the Sir Percival David collection, now in the British Museum, London, was included in the Oriental Ceramic Society exhibition The World in Colours, Brunei Gallery, School of Oriental and African Studies, London, 2006, cat. no. 5; and another with a lady and attendant, is published in R.P. Marchant, 'Some Interesting Pieces of Marked Ch'ing Porcelain', Bulletin of the Oriental Ceramic Society of Hong Kong, 1977-78, no. 3, pls 1-2. Compare also a dish with an apocryphal Chenghua mark, painted with a scholar on a horse and an attendant, illustrated in Regina Krahl, Chinese Ceramics from the Meiyintang Collection, London, 1994-2010, vol. 2, pl. 773, together with another dish of this type with two ladies and scrolls, pl. 774. The author explains that these dishes are generally referred to as ‘birthday plates’, as they were reputedly made for the Kangxi Emperor’s 60th birthday in 1713, and notes that those with reign marks are unusual (p. 144).

Further dishes of this type include a group from the Sir Percival David collection, now in the British Museum, London, included in Illustrated Catalogue of Ch'ing Enamelled Wares in the Percival David Foundation of Chinese Art, section 2, London, 1958, pl. I, rev. ed., 1991, nos 805-807.

Dr Ho-Ching Yang was the Vice President of Dominick & Dominick, Inc., a member of the New York Stock Exchange and president of The Board of Trustees of the China Institute in America. Born in Shanghai and graduated from Tung Chi University Medical College, he was originally trained as a physician and medical researcher. In 1937, he left for England. In 1939 as war broke out in Europe, together with his family, he moved to the United States, where he continued his studies and received a Master’s degree in Public Health from Johns Hopkins University.