Two 'Eight Immortals' Bowls. Guangxu Mark and Period

each hemispherical bowl supported on a low foot, the exterior finely-painted in underglaze blue and puce enamel with the baxian ('Eight Immortals'), standing on their attributes among cresting waves, the interior with Shoulao and his deer among waves and clouds, key-fret border at the foot, the underside with six-character mark in underglaze blue (2) - diameter 8 3/4 in., 22.2 cm - Estimate: 5,000—7,000 USD - Lot Sold: 11,875 USD

PROVENANCE: Acquired by the present owner in Cambridge, Massachusetts, circa 1969

NOTE: The decoration of the present bowls is derived from Kangxi period examples. For a discussion of this type and illustrations of an early 19th century example and a late 19th century example, both painted in underglaze blue and red, see Christiaan J. A. Jörg et al, Chinese Ceramics in the Collection of the Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam, the Ming and Qing Dynasties, London, 1997, nos 138, 139, pp 132-133. A closely related Guangxu bowl, from the collection of Simon Kwan, was included in the exhibition Imperial Porcelain of Late Qing, Art Gallery, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, 1983, cat. no. 112; another was sold at Christie's New York, 1st December 1988, lot 347, and again, 21st September 2000, lot 351; and a third example was sold at Christie's Singapore, 30th March 1997, lot 353. Compare also a similar bowl, Tongzhi reign mark of the period, in the Palace Museum, Beijing, illustrated in The Official Kiln Porcelain of the Chinese Qing Dynasty, Beijing, 2003, p. 438.

Sotheby's. Fine Chinese Ceramics & Works of Art including Chinese and Japanese Art from The Collection of Frieda and Milton Rosenthal. 16 Sep 08. www.sotheby's.com