A rare pair of doucai floral bowls, Daoguang six-character seal marks in underglaze-blue and of the period (1821-1850). Photo Christie's Image Ltd 2014.

Each bowl is potted with deep sides rising to a flaring rim, with the exterior intricately decorated with roundels of fruiting trees separated by branches of pomegranate, above a lappet border around the foot. 6 in. (15.2 cm.) diam.. Estimate £40,000 – £60,000 ($67,160 - $100,740)

Provenance: The Yip Family Collection.
Christie's New York, 24-25 March 2011, lot 1716.

Notes: Bowls with this design are based on Kangxi period (1662-1722) prototypes, such as one in the collection of the Palace Museum in Beijing, illustrated in The Complete Collection of Treasures of the Palace Museum - 38 - Porcelains in Polychrome and Contrasting Colours, Hong Kong, 1999, p. 216, no. 197. A Daoguang mark and period example of the same size, shape and decoration is illustrated by G. Avitabile, From the Dragon's Treasure, London, 1987, p. 52, no. 56.

Christie's. FINE CHINESE CERAMICS AND WORKS OF ART, 13 May 2014, London, King Street - http://www.christies.com/