Lot 145. A large 'famille-rose' punch bowl, Qing Dynasty, Yongzheng Period (1723-1735). Estimate 25,000 — 30,000 USD. Lot sold 42,000 USD. Photo: Sothebys.

the deep U-shaped sides finely painted on the exterior with a continuous frieze of eight women of the Yang Family riding horses, each wearing a long colorful dress with many layers, riding side-saddle atop pink, blue, lavender, yellow, and black horses, each carrying a whip while galloping through trellised gardens, the well of the interior painted with peonies, prunus and a butterfly, below a cell-diaper band alternating with sections of pink and turquoise further divided by friezes of chrysanthemum and peony sprigs; 15 1/4 in., 38.7 cm.

Note: This bowl depicts a scene from the legendary story of the Yang family women generals of the Song dynasty who went into battle after their husbands, sons and brothers died in combat. The story is about their bravery and their heroic defeat of the Western Xia military campaign. See a large bowl of this form similarly depicting the women generals, sold at Christie's London, 7th July 1986, lot 345.   

Sotheby's. Fine Chinese Ceramics & Works of Art, New York, 31 mars 2005