Lot 735. An imperial yellow-glazed dish, Zhengde six-character mark in underglaze blue within a double circle and of the period (1506-1521), 7 in. (17.8 cm.) diam. Estimate USD 20,000 - USD 30,000. Price realised USD 118,750. © Christie's Images Ltd 2017

The dish is raised on a low tapering foot ring and has rounded sides flaring to an everted rim, and covered inside and out with a glaze of rich egg-yolk yellow.

Provenance: Bluett & Sons, London, 1950s.
Private collection, Europe.

Note: Monochrome yellow glazes were typically used to decorate dishes and bowls in the late 15th-16th centuries, such as the present dish. Although they are believed to have been manufactured for the sole use of the Imperial court, it appears that some also found their way abroad, probably as diplomatic gifts. John Alexander Pope mentions that there are sixteen monochrome yellow-glazed wares amongst the Chinese porcelains dedicated to the Ardebil Shrine by Shah Abbas in 1611. These sixteen pieces date to the Hongzhi, Zhengde, Jiajing and Wanli periods. See J. A. Pope, Chinese Porcelains from the Ardebil Shrine, Washington, 1956, p. 151.