Lot 3112. An exceptionally rare large blue and white reserve-decorated ‘peony’ dish, Xuande six-character mark in underglaze blue in a line and of the period (1426-1435). Estimate HK$15,000,000 - HK$25,000,000 ($1,944,540 - $3,240,900). Price Realized HK$20,280,000 ($2,629,018). Photo Christie's Image Ltd 2015

The magnificent dish is beautifully decorated on the centre of the interior with a flowering peony spray enclosed within a single line, surrounded by six fruiting sprays on the cavetto, comprised of pomegranate, loquat, cherry, persimmon, peach and lychee, all reserved in white with fine incised details against a jewel-like rich cobalt ground. The exterior is decorated with an elaborate chrysanthemum scroll with the resign mark written in underglaze blue within a rectangular cartouche just below the rim. 15 in. (38 cm.) diam.

Provenance: A French private collection, acquired in the early 20th century
A Parisian private collector, acquired in 1978

Notes: Only two other examples of this design are published, one is in the collection of the Museum of Oriental Ceramics, Osaka, which has been designated an Important Cultural Property by the Japanese authorities, illustrated in Masterpieces of Oriental Ceramics, Osaka, 1990, p. 71, no. 46 (fig. 4); the second is illustrated by Geng Baochang in Ming Qing ciqi jianding, Beijing, 1988, p. 64, fig. 111 (fig. 5). The relative position of the flowering spray to the surrounding fruiting sprays is nearly identical on both of these dishes. The current dish appears to be the only example of this design in private hands.

Porcelain Dish with Reversed Peony Decoration against Cobalt-Blue Glaze, Ming Dynasty, Xuande Mark and Period (1426-1435), h.38.7cm. Gift of SUMITOMO Group, the ATAKA Collection. Acc. No. 10801. The Museum of Oriental Ceramics, Osaka. © 2009 The Museum of Oriental Ceramics, Osaka.

Christie's. IMPORTANT CHINESE CERAMICS AND WORKS OF ART, 2 December 2015, Convention Hall