Lot 1871. A very rare large doucai ogee-form bowl, Kangxi six-character mark within double-circles and of the period (1662-1722); 10 3/8 in. (26.3 cm.) diam. Estimate HKD 1,500,000 - HKD 2,000,000. Price realised HKD 2,300,000. © Christie's Images Ltd 2010

The shallow bowl enamelled in brilliant tones and enhanced in gilt with a sunken central medallion of a flowerhead encircled by interlocking ruyi-heads, the wide flaring cavetto with unusual sprays of stylised floral motifs, the reverse with a lotus flower meander, each full bloom supporting one of the eight Buddhist Emblems, above a lappet band around the foot, Japanese wood box.

Provenance: Previously sold at Christie's Hong Kong, 30 October 2001, lot 794, originally sold as a pair.

Note: The pair to the present bowl is illustrated in Chinese Ceramics in the Idemitsu Collection, Tokyo, 1987, no. 943.

Two other ogee bowls of this form and design are known, one bearing a Kangxi mark was included in the exhibition Ch'ing Porcelain from the Wah Kwong Collection, Chinese University of Hong Kong, 1973, and illustrated in the Catalogue, no. 77; and the other with an apocryphal Chenghua mark, dated early 18th century, was sold in at Christie's Hong Kong, 31 October 1995, lot 500.

The designs of the central medallion and of the unusual floral sprays on the cavetto, are evidently Qing dynasty adaptations on a Chenghua prototype. Compare the present lot with a small doucai Chenghua-marked saucer from the Percival David Foundation, London, illustrated by R. Scott and S. Pierson, Flawless Porcelains: Imperial Ceramics from the Reign of the Chenghua Emperor, Singapore, 1995, pl. 25. The Ming prototype has a central medallion with interlinked ruyi-heads, with the exterior enhanced by lingzhi sprays. Although the present Kangxi bowl is much more complex and elaborate in style and composition, the inspiration is evident.

Christie's. The Imperial Sale Important Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art, Hong Kong, 31 May 2010 - Sale 2811