Lot 712. A pair of famille rose 'Boys' bowls and covers, Qing dynasty, Daoguang period (1821-1850). Estimate 6,000 — 8,000 USD. Lot sold 26,250 USD. Photo: Sotheby's.

each finely painted around the exterior with a continuous scene of five boys at play in a garden, with one setting off firecrackers whilst others play instruments and another flies a kite, the base and top of the cover inscribed in iron-red enamel with the four-character mark Xiezhu zhuren zao (made by the Master of the Bamboo Flute) within a square (4). Diameter 4 3/8  in., 11.2 cm 

Note: Compare a very similar bowl and cover inscribed with a Daoguang seal mark in iron-red, formerly in the Yangzhitang Collection, sold at Christie's Singapore, 30th March 1997, lot 255. A Xiezhu zhuren zao mark also appears on a larger ogee-form bowl, also painted with boys at play, attributed to the Daoguang period, sold in our London rooms, 9th November 2011, lot 478. 

Sotheby's. Important Chinese Art New York, 15 Mar 2017