A fine coral-ground reverse-decorated 'bamboo' bowl, Qianlong six-character seal mark and of the period. Photo Bonhams

Of gently rounded form, the exterior covered in a striking coral-red enamelled, decorated in reverse to the glazed white body, featuring bamboo shoot growths in brilliant contrast, the outlines further highlighted by pencilled iron-red, the interior and the base plain. 11.8cm diam. Estimate: US$ 52,000 - 77,000

Provenance: Collection of Iver Munthe Daae (1845-1924), Norwegian member of the Chinese Maritime Customs Service 1867-1888
S. Marchant & Son, London
A Swiss private collection

Illustrated: S. Marchant & Son, Recent Acquisitions, London, 2003, no. 15.

Notes: For a similar Qianlong reign-marked example, see Wonders of the Potter's Palette. Qing Ceramics from the Collection of the Hong Kong Museum of Art, Hong Kong, 1984, Catalogue no. 77. For a Jiaqing reign-marked example in the Nanjing Museum, see Xu Huping (ed.), Treasures in the Royalty. The Official Kiln Porcelain of the Chinese Qing Dynasty, Shanghai, 2003, p.365.

Iver Munthe Daae (1845-1924) was a Norwegian who served for over twenty years in the Chinese Maritime Customs Service. In 1868, he sailed for China and was appointed as a clerk working under Sir Robert Hart, Inspector General of Customs at that time. Intelligent and ambitious, he was swiftly promoted to Commissioner for several Chinese cities and Taiwan. Daae was one of the rare foreigners who were awarded the honorary title of Mandarin of the Third Degree by the Guangxu Emperor in 1878. In 1878-9, he became the Secretary in charge of the Inspectorate General, later holding the post of Inspector General from 1885-7. During his final days in China, Daae was influential in government politics and worked closely with the famous statesman Li Hongzhang. His distinguished reputation and long term friendship with China allowed him to amass a great collection of Chinese ceramics and works of art, before retiring and returning to Norway in 1907. For other examples of his Imperial porcelain sold at auction, see a Kangxi wucai month cup and a Yongzheng blue and white vase, sold in these rooms, 27 May 2012, lots 2 and 4.

Bonhams. 26 May 2013. Hong Kong. Fine Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art