A blue and white Ming-style 'Lianzi' bowl, Qing dynasty, early 18th century. Estimate 8,000 — 12,000 USD. Photo Sotheby's

with high rounded sides, standing on a small slightly tapering foot enclosing a convex conical base, the exterior painted with upright lappets interlinked with delicate pomegranate silhouettes, between key-fret borders, the interior with a central quatrefoil within key-fret and interlinked trefoil, the rim with a classic scroll - Diameter 4 1/8  in., 10.5 cm

Provenance: Brown Family Collection, Connecticut, acquired in the 1950s.
Private Collection, Princeton, New Jersey, acquired in the 1980s and thence by descent.

Notes: Modeled closely after a Yongle or Xuande period prototype, the present bowl pays respect to the much heralded blue and white porcelains of the early Ming dynasty. There were a few variations of these early lianzi (lotus seed) bowls and all were highly desirable with examples being found in the Ardebil Shrine, Iran and in Europe as seen in a painting of "Madonna and Child" by the 15th century artist Francesco Benaglio in the National Gallery of Art, Washington DC. For an illustration of the Yongle period example see Jessica Harrison-Hall, Ming Ceramics in the British Museum, London, 2001, no. 3:30.

The early Qing dynasty aesthetic embraced the classical taste of the preceding Ming dynasty as a means to show respect for Han traditions while strengthening a new era of Manchu dominance. The present bowl pays homage to the past but its technical artistry also declares the masterful skill of Qing dynasty artisans; a message to be appreciated on several levels.

Sotheby's. Important Chinese Art, New York, 15 Sep 2015, 02:00 PM