Lot 1337. A rare early Ming Longquan celadon barbed-rim bowl, Ming dynasty, 15th century; 8 5/8 in. (22 cm.) diam. Estimate HKD 50,000 - HKD 70,000. Price realised HKD 78,000. © Christie's Images Ltd 2006.

Heavily potted with deep rounded fluted sides rising to a bracket-lobed rim, freely carved around the exterior with mountains and rocky outcrops rising out of cresting waves below ruyi clouds, with an overlapping petal band at the mouth rim, the interior carved with a central medallion containing cell-pattern diaper surrounded by eight fluted petals edged with a wavy foliate band at the mouth, covered with a thick celadon glaze except for a ring around the base burnt orange in the firing, Japanese wood box.

Note:Compare with closely related bowls with this design, one included in the exhibition Early Chinese Ceramics, An American Private Collection, J. J. Lally & Co., New York, March-April 2005, Catalogue no. 56; and another sold in these Rooms, 30 May 2005, lot 1445.

Other Longquan celadon bowls carved with continuous landscapes include an example in the Palace Museum, Beijing, illustrated in Longquan Ciqi, Beijing, 1966, pl. 59; and a smaller bowl included in the Illustrated Catalogue of Celadon Wares in the Percival David Foundation of Chinese Art, London, 1997, p. 45, no. 274. 

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