Lot 1336. A very fine and rare Longquan celadon carved deep bowl, Ming dynasty, early 15th century; 8¼ in. (21 cm.) diam. Estimate HKD 120,000 - HKD 180,000. Price realised HKD 216,000. © Christie's Images Ltd 2006.

With deep rounded sides, finely carved to the interior with a peony spray roundel encircled by a wide band of lotus, peony, chrysanthemum and peony blooms borne on a dense floral scroll, the exterior similarly carved above a ket-fret band to the short foot, covered in a rich celadon glaze pooling in the recesses, the base with orange-fired biscuit annulet, Japanese wood box.

Note: Compare the present example with a carved Longquan bowl from the Jack Chia Collection sold at Sotheby's Hong Kong, 5 November 1996, lot 634; and one sold in our London Rooms, 18 June 2002, lot 255.

The carved decoration on the bowl relates closely to designs found on contemporary blue and white bowls of the Yongle and Xuande reigns decorated with dense floral scrolls to the exterior and interior around a floral medallion.

Christie's. Important Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art, Hong Kong, 30 May 2006