A rare large carved celadon bowl, Yongzheng six-character seal mark in underglaze blue and of the period (1723-1735). Photo Christie's Image 2003

Well potted with deep rounded sides and flared mouth rim, the exterior finely carved with three large sprays of blossoming lotus, peony and mallow above smaller sprays of chrysanthemum, begonia and dianthus and below detached branches of peach, pomegranate and persimmon, the sanduo, all interspersed with small clusters of swirling clouds, covered overall with an even glaze of attractive pale bluish-green tone, the foot rim with brown dressing - 13½in. (34cm.) diam. Lot 350. Estimate $50,000 - $60,000. Price Realized $107,550 

Notes: A similar celadon-glazed bowl of this large size with Yongzheng mark is illustrated by R. Krahl, The Anthony de Rothschild Collection of Chinese Ceramics, Eranda Foundation, 1996, vol. 2, pp. 258-9, no. 144. Another very similar bowl with Yongzheng mark in the collection of the British Rail Pension Fund was exhibited at the Dallas Museum of Art, 1985 - 1988, and later sold at Sotheby's, Hong Kong, 16 May 1989, lot 57. And another was also sold at Sotheby's, Hong Kong, 30 April 1991, lot 86.

See, also, the bowl of similar size and pattern with Yongzheng mark but covered with a pale underglaze blue leaving the carved decoration in white, the whole then having been covered with a pale celadon glaze, included in the exhibition of Chingtechen Porcelain of the Ming and Ch'ing Dynasties from the Collection of The T.Y. Chao Family Foundation, Hong Kong Museum of Art, 1978, no. 59. 

Christie's. FINE CHINESE CERAMICS AND WORKS OF ART, 18 September 2003, New York, Rockefeller Plaza