Lot 2807. A fine and very rare pair of doucai ‘floral medallion’ washers, Yongzheng six-character marks in underglaze blue within double squares and of the period (1723-1735); 6 1/8 in. (15.6 cm.) diam. Estimate HKD 1,200,000 - HKD 2,800,000. Price realised HKD 9,100,000. © Christie's Images Ltd 2017

Each is finely potted with shallow flaring sides and upturned rim, exquisitely painted with a borderless composite floral medallion on the interior with five different flowerheads delicately enamelled in pale pastel colours within finely delineated underglaze-blue outlines, amidst foliage and iron-red buds, the underside with a collar of stylised multi-coloured petal motifs radiating from the foot ring. 

Provenance: Frank Caro, successor to C.T. Loo, New York, 1960s

Exhibited: San Antonio Museum of Art, San Antonio, Texas, 1984-2017

Note: The present pair of washers appears to be the only marked examples known in this form and decorative design. Compare to a pair of unmarked washers dated to 18th century, sold at Christie’s New York, 27 November 1991, lot 413, which are almost identical in design with the exception of a slightly different depiction of petals on the underside. This unusual form, resembling a cymbal, is more often found in blue and white during the Yongzheng and Qianlong periods. Compare for example, a Yongzheng-marked blue and white washer painted with a double-vajra, illustrated in Jiangxi cangci quanji – Qingdai, vol. 1, p. 146, and a smaller pair (11.2 cm.) sold at Sotheby’s Hong Kong, 8 April 2011, lot 3139; and a pair of Qianlong-marked dishes painted with dragons of comparable size from the Greenwald Collection, sold at Christie’s Hong Kong, 1 December 2010, lot 2832.

A fine pair of blue and white footed saucer dishes, marks and period of Yongzheng (1723-1735); 11.2 cm., 4 3/8 in. Sold for 860,000 HKD at Sotheby’s Hong Kong, 8 April 2011, lot 3139. Photo: Sotheby's. 

A fine pair of blue and white 'dragon' dishes, Qianlong six-character sealmarks and of the period (1736-1795); 6 in. (15.4 cm.) diam. Sold for HKD 2,180,000 at Christie’s Hong Kong, 1 December 2010, lot 2832. © Christie's Images Ltd 2010

Christie's. Important Chinese Ceramics from The Dr. James D. Thornton Collection, 29 November 2017, Hong Kong