Lot 3015. A fine and rare ruby-backed famille rose tea bowl, Yongzheng six-character mark in underglaze blue within a double circle and of the period (1723-1735). Estimate HKD 1,500,000 - HKD 2,500,000 (USD 193,452 - USD 322,419) © Christie's Images Ltd 2017

The bowl is finely potted with steep rounded sides rising from a straight foot. The interior is finely decorated with three asymmetrically arranged prunus flowerheads and the exterior is covered with orange peel textured pink enamel stopping neatly at the foot.

Note: While similar ruby-backed bowls dated to the Yongzheng period have been published, it is very rare to find an example decorated with the additional flowerheads on the interior. Compare to a pair of similarly decorated ruby-backed bowls of slightly smaller size (9.1 cm. diam.) in the J. M. Hu Collection, illustrated in Qing Imperial Monochromes: The Zande Lou Collection, Hong Kong, 2005, p. 66-7, pl. 16.

Christie's. The Imperial Sale / Important Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art, 31 May 2017, Convention Hall