A rare famille verte coral-ground 'boys' bowl. Jiaqing seal mark and of the period

With well-rounded sides rising from a short slightly tapered foot ring, brightly enamelled around the exterior with small boys gathered in groups and at play in a garden setting, all reserved on a rich coral ground with gilt garden balustrades and wispy cloud scrolls, (old hairline crack), carved wood stand. 21cm (8¼in) diam. (2). Estimate: £8,000 - 12,000

Footnote: For a similar example, exhibited in the Hong Kong O.C.S. Exhibition of Ch'ing Polychrome Porcelain, 1977, see Catalogue, no.100; for another, included in the Hong Kong Museum of Art exhibition, The Wonders of Potter's Palette, 1986, Catalogue, no.93; compare also a similar bowl from the Robert Chang Collection exhibited in London in 1993, illustrated in An Exhibition of Important Chinese Ceramics from the Robert Chang Collection, Catalogue, p.82, fig.35. A similar famille verte coral-ground 'boys' bowl sold Christie's London, 7 November 2006, lot 226.

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Bonhams. Fine Chinese Art, 6 Nov 2008. New Bond Street - www.bonhams.com