Lot 303. A pair of blue and white 'Birthday' bowls, Qianlong six-character seal marks in underglaze blue and of the period (1736-1795); 7 ¼ in. (18.2 cm.) diam. Estimate GBP 8,000 - GBP 12,000 (USD 10,440 - USD 15,660). © Christie's Images Ltd 2019.

Each bowl is decorated to the exterior with four roundels enclosing the characters 'wan shou wu jiang', which may be translated as 'ten thousand birthdays without end'. The roundels are reserved on a ground of dense lotus sprays interspersed with the Eight Buddhist Emblems, bajixiang. The interior is decorated with a shou character roundel surrounded by a further set of the Eight Buddhist Emblems.