A large blue and white 'Phoenix Medallion' bowl, Jiajing mark and period. Estimation 10,000 — 15,000 USD. Photo: Sotheby's.

painted around the exterior in dark cobalt-blue tones with six circular medallions enclosing confronting phoenix amidst clouds on a blue ground divided by trefoil cloud scrolls, all between a lappet band and lingzhiborder, the interior with a recumbent qilin within concentric circles, a cell diaper border reserving phoenix around the rim, six-character mark in underglaze blue. Diameter 14 1/4  in., 36.2 cm

Provenance: Acquired in the 1970s and 80s. 

Notes: A similar example is illustrated in Regina Krahl, Chinese Ceramics in the Topkapi Saray Museum, Istanbul, cat. II, London, 1986, cat. no. 992 where the author notes that there are six bowls of this type in the collection and all are inscribed with six-character Jiajing reign marks.

Sotheby's. Important Chinese Art, New York, 15 sept. 2015