Lot 1826. A fine Ming-style blue and white 'phoenix medallion' bowl, Kangxi six-character mark within double-circles and of the period (1662-1722); 8½ in. (21.7 cm.) diam. Estimate HKD 500,000 - HKD 800,000. Price Realized: HKD 1,027,500. © Christie's Image Ltd 2008.

The gently curved sides of the bowl divided into eight lobes, each facet delicately painted on the exterior in a bright blue with a phoenix roundel, in between narrow bands of scrolling lotus below the shaped rim and above the high foot, and a continuous border of key-fret encircling the lobed foot, the centre of the interior with a larger phoenix roundel below a further lotus meander at the rim, box. 

Note: Previously sold at Christie's Hong Kong, 8 November 1982, lot 138 and again, 2 November 1999, lot 582.

Compare with a very similar Kangxi-marked octafoil bowl sold at Christie's London, 8 December 1986, lot 351.

It is very likely that this bowl draws its inspiration from early Ming prototypes. Compare with a Xuande-marked bowl in the Shanghai Museum, illustrated in Mingdai guanyao ciqi, Studies of the Shanghai Museum Collections: Ming Dynasty Imperial Ceramics, Shanghai, 2007, pl. 3-33; an unmarked Xuande shallow bowl decorated with phoenix medallions on the interior and base in the National Palace Museum, Taipei, illustrated in Blue and White Ware of the Ming Dyansty, Book II, Part 2, Cafa, Hong Kong, 1963, col. pl. 56, and the stembowl illustrated ibid, pl. 38 with a related profile, moulded with ten lobes, each decorated with a quatrefoil cartouche enclosing a pair of phoenix.