A rare imperial ru-type glazed bulb bowl, Qianlong seal mark and of the period. Estimate HK$ 350,000 - 500,000 (€42,000 - 61,000). Photo: Bonhams.

The compressed body raised on three short ruyi-head feet, the shallow rounded sides applied with a band of spaced bosses encircling the body, applied overall with a finely-crackled glaze of pale sea-green tone, the underside of the foot unglazed and dressed in a brown wash, the base with eight spur marks. 25cm (9 7/8in) diam.

Provenance: Acquired from Alfred Speelman, London, on 6 June 1968, and thence by descent
An important European private collection

Notes: The ru-type glazed bulb bowl is very rare and no other example of this form and glaze appears to have been published. Compare, however, a related ru-type glazed washer, Qianlong seal mark and period, with similar bosses, but of smaller size (7.7cm diam.), illustrated in Treasures in the Royalty. The Official Kiln Porcelain of the Chinese Qing Dynasty, Shanghai, 2003, p.333.

In form and style, the bulb bowl is a direct continuation from the Yongzheng period, as exemplified in a jun-type glazed bulb bowl, Yongzheng, from the Palace Museum, Beijing, illustrated in Gu gong bo wu yuan cang qing dai yu yao ci qi, vol.1, part 2, Beijing, 2005, pl.167. Both the present bowl of the Qianlong period and the example of the Yongzheng period were inspired in form by the jun-glazed bulb bowls of the Song dynasty; for several Song dynasty examples from the Qing Court collection see The Complete Collection of Treasures of the Palace Museum: Porcelain of the Song Dynasty, Hong Kong, 1996, pls.24-28. In glaze, the present bowl is inspired by the rarest of the 'five great wares' of the Song dynasty, namely the prized Northern Song dynasty imperial ru glaze with its bluish tinge and fine craquelure.

Bonhams. EXCEPTIONAL CHINESE ART FROM A EUROPEAN PRIVATE COLLECTION, 3 Dec 2015 10:30 HKT - HONG KONG, ADMIRALTY