Each finely potted with deep rounded sides raised on a short straight foot, the exterior with a densely-incised decoration enclosing five blossoming flowers borne on leafy foliage, applied overall with a lustrous glaze of deep rich-green tone displaying an iridescent sheen, wood stands. Each 14cm (5 1/2in) diam. (4).

Provenance: A distinguished European private collection, and thence by descent.

Notes: The European private collection to which these rare Imperial porcelains belong, ranging from the Zhengde to the Yongzheng period, was formed by a highly discerning collector, mostly between the 1930s and the 1960s. 

The pieces forming the collection in its entirety, were acquired from some of the foremost dealers of their generation, including in London John Sparks, Bluett's and William Clayton, in Paris L.Wannieck and Pierre Saqué and in New York Frank Caro (as successor to C.T. Loo). In a correspondence between John Sparks and the owner in 1930, the former was informed that a recently acquired piece has arrived safely despite the hard landing of the aeroplane...

The exceptional rarity of many of the pieces stand as a testament to the connoisseur's eye of the collector. The collection moved with the owner and her family across three continents, always beautifully displayed around the home to be enjoyed and admired daily.

The present pair of bowls is rare in their dynamic and bold design of floral blooms and feathery leaves, in comparison to the type more commonly decorated with dragon or bajixiang motifs. 

See a similar example of a single bowl, illustrated by R.Krahl, Chinese Ceramics from the Meiyintang Collection, London, 1994-2010, vol.2, no.887, which was later sold at Sotheby's Hong Kong on 5 October 2016, lot 3661.

A rare copper-green glazed incised 'floral' bowl, Mark and period of Yongzheng (1723-1735) from the Meiyintang Collection. Sold 237,500 HKD at Sotheby's Hong Kong, 5 October 2016, lot 3661. Photo Sotheby's.

(Cf. my post A rare copper-green glazed incised 'floral' bowl, Mark and period of Yongzheng (1723-1735)

Compare also a related copper-green-glazed bowl, incised with lotus blossoms and similar leafy fronds, Yongzheng mark and of the period, in the Victoria and Albert Museum, London, illustrated by R.Kerr, Chinese Ceramics: Porcelain of the Qing Dynasty 1644-1911, London, 1998, p.90, no.65.

Bonhams. FINE CHINESE CERAMICS AND WORKS OF ART, 2016-11-29, 14:00 HKT - HONG KONG, ADMIRALTY