Lot 36. A coral-ground famille verte 'Boys' bowl, 18th century; 8 ¼ in. (20.8 cm). Estimate GBP 20,000 - GBP 30,000. Price realised GBP 212,500. © Christie's Images Ltd 2018.

The bowl is enamelled and gilt on a coral-red ground, with four groups of four boys gathered playing and engaged in leisurely pursuits beside rocks and plantain on a continuous fenced garden terrace. The rail posts, surrounding trees and vegetation are highlighted in gilt. The base is painted with a six-character Kangxi mark.  

Provenance: Collection of the late Soame Jenyns (1904-1976), then by descent within the family.

Note: The elaborate and highly amusing design on the present bowl is based on earlier Ming prototypes of children gathered in groups playing in a landscaped garden. The earliest representation in this format can be seen on a Yongle blue and white bowl exhibited at the Hong Kong Museum of Art, Chinese Porcelain, The S.C. Ko Tianminlou Collection, Hong Kong, 1987, illustrated in the Catalogue, no. 15. 

Bowls of this particular design and palette most commonly appear in the Jiaqing period (1796-1820). Although the original Kangxi versions are more rare, an example can be found in the collection of the Tsui Museum, Hong Kong, illustrated in The Tsui Museum of Art, Chinese Ceramics, vol. 4, Hong Kong, 1995, pl.104. A pair of bowls with identical design but from the Qianlong period is illustrated in Chinese Ceramics in the Idemitsu Collection, Japan, 1987, pl. 952. 

Jiaqing examples include a bowl in the Palace Museum, Beijing, illustrated in The Complete Collection of Treasures of the Palace Museum, Porcelains in Polychrome and Contrasting Colours, Hong Kong, 1999, pl.159; and two bowls in the O.C.S. Exhibition of Ch'ing Polychrome Porcelain, 1977, no. 100, subsequently sold at Christie's London, 13 December 1982, lot 528.

Christie's. Fine Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art, London, 6 November 2018