Lot 1547. A fine early Ming Longquan celadon carved deep bowl, Yongle period (1403-1425), 8 3/8 in. (21.4 cm.) diam. Estimate USD 20,000 - USD 30,000. Price realised USD 25,000 © Christie's Images Ltd 2016

The bowl has deep rounded sides carved on the exterior with chrysanthemum, lotus and peony blossoms between borders of classic scroll and lotus petals, and the interior is carved with a dense floral scroll comprised of the same flowers surrounding a branch bearing two peaches in a central medallion. The bowl is covered with an even, grey-green glaze, with the exception of the base, Japanese wood box. 

Provenance: Private collection, Kansai, Japan, since the 19th century.

Note: The carved decoration on this bowl relates closely to the designs found on blue and white bowls that were produced at the same time during the early Ming period. There are numerous examples of Yongle and Xuande porcelain bowls with dense lotus scrolls or composite floral scrolls on the exterior and on the interior encircling a central floral medallion. One such example is the Yongle bowl illustrated by John A. Pope, Chinese Porcelain from the Ardebil Shrine, Washington D.C., 1956, pl. 47 (top left). 

An early Ming Longquan celadon example with similar classic scroll below the rim, instead of the more common key-fret border, is in the collection of Seikado Bunko Art Musuem, Tokyo, and illustrated in Longquan Ware: Chinese Celadon Beloved of the Japanese, Japan, 2012, p. 82, pl. 93.

Christie's. Fine Chinese Ceramics & Works of Art part I, 17 - 18 March 2016, New York