A large celadon-glazed moulded and carved 'herbaceous peony' bowl, Seal mark and period of Qianlong | 清乾隆 粉青釉纏枝芍藥大盌 《大清乾隆年製》款

Christie's Hong Kong, 29th May 2013, lot 2285.

香港佳士得2013年5月29日，編號2285

Three closely related bowls were sold in these rooms, the first, 21st May 1979, lot 121, the second, 20th May 1981, lot 807, and the third, 7th May 2002, lot 600; two bowls were sold in our London rooms, 7th December 1993, lot 273, and 5th November 2014, lot 10, respectively; and a further example was sold at Christie’s Hong Kong, 1st June 2011, lot 3710.

Large celadon-glazed bowls of this design first appeared in the Yongzheng period, when many decorative methods and traditional motifs were revived and perfected. For the Yongzheng prototype, see one, sold three times in these rooms, 28th November 1978, lot 186, 20th May 1981, lot 812, and 8th April 2011, lot 3007; and a smaller example, in the Palace Museum, Beijing, included in Qingdai yuyao ciqi [Porcelains from the Qing dynasty imperial kilns in the Palace Museum collection], vol. 1, pt. 2, Beijing, 2005, pl. 106. 

The elegant scrolling flower motif is reminiscent of early 15th-century blue and white imperial porcelain, while the glaze has been made to imitate the celebrated Longquan celadon wares. By combining the two together, the potter has succeeded in creating a contemporary yet elegant bowl suitable to the taste of its time. See a large Yongle basin of related form, decorated in cobalt with a similar floral scroll beneath a classic scroll border at the rim, from the collections of George Eumorfopoulos, Sir David Home, Bt., and the British Rail Pension Fund, sold in these rooms, 16th May 1989, lot 15.