Christie's. Important Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art, 28 November 2012, Hong Kong
A fine and rare celadon-glazed charger, Qianlong period (1736-1795), xuhuatang zhi hall mark within double-squares
Lot 2316. A fine and rare celadon-glazed charger, Qianlong period (1736-1795), xuhuatang zhi hall mark within double-squares; 18 7/8 in. (48 cm.) diam. Estimate HKD 600,000 - HKD 800,000. Price realised HKD 740,000. © Christie's Images Ltd 2012
The dish is well potted with shallow rounded sides raised on a slightly tapered ring foot. It is well moulded on the central medallion with a single large peony borne on a stem bearing jagged-edged leaves and a small bud. The everted rim is decorated with a keyfret band. It is covered in an attractive pastel green glaze. The base bears the hall mark Xuhuatang zhi, 'Made for the Hall of the Bright Rising Sun', inscribed in underglaze-blue, , wrapping cloth.
Provenance: Sold at Christie's Hong Kong, 30 April 2001, lot 697; and Christie's Hong Kong, 28 November 2006, lot 1586
Note: No other example bearing the Xuhuatang zhi hall mark appears to have been published, although a vessel inscribed with the four-character mark Xuhuatang cang, 'Treasure from the Hall of the Bright Rising Sun', has been published and dated to the Qianlong period by Geng Baochang, see Ming Qing ciqi jianding, Ming and Qing Porcelain on Inspection, Beijing, 1993, p. 348, pl. 5.