A fine and rare large doucai jardiniere, Qianlong six-character seal mark in underglaze-blue and of the period (1736-1795)

31 mai 2019

A fine and rare large doucai jardiniere, Qianlong six-character seal mark in underglaze-blue and of the period (1736-1795)

Lot 2811. A fine and rare large doucai jardiniere, Qianlong six-character seal mark in underglaze-blue and of the period (1736-1795); 13 ¼ in. (33.5 cm.) diam. Estimate HKD 2,800,000 - HKD 3,500,000. Price realised HKD 4,685,000. © Christie's Images Ltd 2019

The jardinière is sturdily potted with deep rounded sides rising to a thickened rim, finely painted on the exterior with four composite foliate roundels, interspersed by elaborate interlocking leafy scrolls, between borders of lotus petal lappets below and ruyi-heads above, with a band of interlocking quatrefoil panels each enclosing flower sprays reserved on a blue ground below the rim. The countersunk base is applied with a brown dressing surrounding the recessed centre inscribed with the reign mark, box.

Provenance: Sold at Christie’s Hong Kong, 18 March 1991, lot 597B.

Note: Only a few other examples of this pattern are known, all seem to be decorated with famille-rose and doucai, these include one in the Shanghai Museum, illustrated in Selected Ceramics from the Collection of Mr. and Mrs. J.M. Hu, Shanghai, 1989, no. 68; one illustrated in Sekai Toji Zenshu, vol. 15, Tokyo, 1983, pp. 86-87, nos. 94 and 95; one in the Idemitsu Museum, illustrated in Chinese Ceramics in the Idemitsu Collection, Tokyo, 1987, fig. 947; one in the Seikado Bunko Art Museum, illustrated in Exhibition of Qing Ceramics from the Seikado Bunko Art Museum, Tokyo, 2006, p. 72, no. 62; a single one and a pair were included in the exhibition Ming and Qing Ceramics and Works of Art held at the Osaka Municipal Museum in 1980, see Catalogue, p. 43, nos. 191 and 193, respectively; one sold at Christie’s Hong Kong, 28 November 2006, lot 1546; and one with the mark effaced sold at Christie’s New York, 24 March 2011, lot 1704.