Lot 1385. A blue and white deep bowl, Qianlong seal mark in underglaze blue and of the period (1736-1795); 7 5/16 in. (18.6 cm.) diam. Estimate USD 10,000 - USD 15,000. Price realised USD 22,500. © Christie's Image Ltd 2010.

With steep sides rising to the slightly flared, rounded rim, painted around the exterior with four characters reading shan gao shui chang within linked ruyi head-form roundels, surrounded by lotus scroll and a band of the bajixiang, between a petal lappet border below and classic scroll beneath the rim, the interior painted with a single shoucharacter encircled by the bajixiang and double line borders.

Note: The characters may be translated as, 'The mountain is high and the river is long'.

Christie's. Fine Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art Including Property from the Arthur M. Sackler Collections, 26 March 2010, New York, Rockefeller Plaza