Lot 1754. A fine and rare large Longquan celadon barbed 'Peony' dish, early Ming dynasty, late 14th-early 15th century; 19 1/8 in. (48.6 cm.) diam. Estimate HKD 800,000 - HKD 1,000,000. Price realised HKD 1,027,500. © Christie's Image Ltd 2007

The stoutly potted dish well-carved to the interior with a central medallion of two adjoining leafy peony stems encircled around the lobed rim with vertically arranged fruit-laden branches including peach, pomegranate and grapes below the lipped everted rim, the reverse with upright lingzhi sprays below foiliate sprays to the underside of the rim, covered in an even celadon glaze, an unglazed ring on the base burnt red in the firing, Japanese wood box. 

Provenance: A Japanese private collection.

Note: Two related dishes are illustrated by R. Krahl, Chinese Ceramics in the Topkapi Saray Museum, vol. 1, Istanbul, 1986, pls. 234 and 235.

Another related example from the Falk Collection was sold at Christie's New York, 16 October 2001 (Catalogue dated 20 September 2001), lot 211; a Longquan 'peony' dish of comparable size was sold at Sotheby's London, 13 July 2005, lot 195.