Lot 1549. A Rare Large Doucai Hexagonal Jardiniere. Kangxi Six-Character Mark In Underglaze Blue In A Line And Of The Period (1662-1722); 22 in. (56 cm.) long. Estimate $200,000 - $300,000. Price Realized $242,500. © Christie's Ltd 2011

Raised on four ruyi supports, the sides flaring upwards in a gentle curve towards the everted rim and finely painted with various scenes of immortals and attendants, the top of the lobed and barbed rim painted with shou characters reserved on a wan diaper ground within a raised outer edge, with two drainage holes in the base, the reign mark written in a line on the underside of the rim. 

Provenance: Hugh Moss Ltd., London, 1972.

Notes: Compare the jardinière of similar shape and size painted in a doucai palette with similar types of scenes of immortals, which also has a Kangxi mark, but a different foot, in the Qing court collection, illustrated in The Complete Collection of Treasures of the Palace Museum - 38 - Porcelains in Polychrome and Contrasting Colours, Hong Kong, 1999, no. 192. As with the present jardinière several scenes incoporate roiling seas.

Christie's. Fine Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art Part I & II,  15 - 16 September 2011. New York, Rockefeller Plaza.