A very rare red lacquer saucer-dish of shallow form, China, early Ming dynasty (1368-1644), probably late 14th century. Photo Nagel Auktionen

The interior is finely carved and incised on a thin and finely executed diaper ground with a pair of phoenixes perched on a branch or flying among a blossoming tree peony; the exterior carved with four birds flying or perched among a dense band with peony flowers and leaves on an ochre-yellow plain lacquer ground. The rim has originally two shallow grooves, the black base has been relacquered and some age cracks stabilised, good condition; h.: 2,1 cm, diam.: 13,8 cm. - Estimate 20 000 / 30 000 €

Provenance: Private collection Rhineland, Germany, acquired at Christie's, London, 7 June 1993, lot 128

Compare: Sotheby's, New York, 21 + 22 Sept. 2005, lot 28, a larger flat dish (diam. 17,8 cm) with a well carved fruiting lychee branch on a finely carved, dense diaper ground, also with two shallow grooves at the rim and dated to the early Ming dynasty, 14th/early 15th century.

Nagel Auktionen. Asian Art, 2013/05/10. http://www.auction.de