Note: It is rare to find bowls of this type produced during the Qing dynasty, although a closely related example was sold in these rooms, 27th April 2003, lot 166; and another was sold at Christie's London, 18th June 2002, lot 69. See also two blue-glazed bowls of this form but without a cover sold in these rooms, 11th April 2008, lots 2908 and 2909. 

The form of the present bowl and cover is based on Ming dynasty Xuande prototypes. See four blue and white decorated bowls and covers, with Xuande reign marks and of the period, in the National Palace Museum, Taiwan, included in the Special Exhibition of Selected Hsuan-te Imperial Porcelains of the Ming Dynasty, National Palace Museum, Taipei, 1998, cat. nos 50-53; and another formerly in the E.T. Chow and T.Y. Chao collections, sold twice in these rooms, 25th November 1980, lot 5, and 19th May 1987, lot 231.

The prevailing interest in archaism throughout the Qing dynasty is evident in this bowl and cover. In form it refers back to the celebrated wares of the Xuande period, while the bird finial is archaistic in its representation. However a fresh aesthetic suited to contemporary tastes has been achieved through the minimalist blue glaze, which also serves to highlight the elegance of the form yet still referring to the past