With rounded sides rising to a gently everted rim, the exterior decorated with three evenly-spaced carp in underglaze-red. 

Note: The design is taken from early 15th century prototypes, such as the small rounded bowl with Xuande mark, included in the Exhibition of Imperial Porcelain of the Yongle and Xuande Periods Excavated from the Site of the Ming Imperial Factory at Jingdezhen, Hong Kong Museum of Art, 1989, illustrated in the Catalogue, no. 75. The motif, however, is more often found on stem bowls.

A bowl of identical size and design was sold at Christie's London, 11 July 2006, lot 138. A slightly larger Yongzheng bowl of this design is illustrated in Sekai Toji Zenshu, vol. 15, pl. 39; and a smaller bowl from the Nanjing Museum, was included in the exhibition, Qing Imperial Porcelain of the Kangxi, Yongzheng and Qianlong Reigns, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, 1995, illustrated in the Catalogue, no. 49.

A Ming-style copper-red decorated 'Three fish' bowl, Underglaze blue Yongzheng six-character mark within double-circles and of the period (1723-1735); 6 in. (15.2 cm.) diam. Estimate GBP 10,000 - GBP 15,000. Price Realized GBP 12,000 at Christie's London, 11 July 2006, lot 138. © Christie's Images Ltd. 2016