Lot 1716. A rare pair of doucai conical bowls, Daoguang seal marks in underglaze blue and of the period (1821-1850); 6 in. (15.2 cm.) diam. Estimate USD 45,000 - USD 55,000. Price realised USD 86,500. © Christie's Images Ltd 2011

Each with step sides rising to the flared rims, painted around the exterior with roundels of fruiting trees interspersed with sprays of pomegranates, all above a border of leaf-shaped lappets at the base, box.

Provenance: The Yip Family collection.

Note: Bowls with this decoration appear to be based on Kangxi prototypes, such as the example found in the Qing Court collection, illustrated in The Complete Collection of Treasures of the Palace Museum - Porcelains in Polychrome and Contrasting Colours, Hong Kong, 1999, p. 216, no. 197. It is interesting to note, however, that the Kangxi examples tend to have more rounded sides when compared to their Daoguang counterparts, which tend to have steep, flared sides. For a Daoguang-marked example of the same size, shape and decoration, see G. Avitabile, From the Dragon's Treasure, London, 1987, p. 52, no. 56.

Christie's. Fine Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art Part I and Part II Including Property from the Arthur M. Sackler Collections, New York, 24 March 2011