An incised green and yellow bowl, Jiajing six-character mark and of the period

Finely incised around the exterior with four figures amidst pine trees and rocky outcrops, the interior with a central medallion enclosing five lingzhi fungus, all against a rich yellow ground. 16.5cm (6½in) diam. Sold for £20,400

Provenance: Stephen D. Winkworth, sold at Sotheby's London, 25-28 April 1933, lot 380.
R.H.R.Palmer, collection label no.277.
Palmer Inventory no.277, where it is stated that the bowl was purchased in April 1933 for £60.

Exhibited: Oriental Ceramic Society, London, 1950, Polychrome Porcelain of the Ming and Manchu Dynasties, exhibition label no.126.

A similar bowl is illustrated in Mayuyama, Seventy Years, Volume 1, Tokyo, 1976, p.280, fig.840, and another in the Percival David Collection is illustrated M.Medley, Illustrated Catalogue of Ming Polychrome Wares, London, 1978, fig.57. Another from the Carl Kempe Collection was sold at Sotheby's Paris, 12 June 2008, lot 4.

Bonhams. Fine Chinese Art, 14 May 2009. New Bond Street www.bonhams.com