A rare incised and moulded white-glazed bowl, Hongwu period (1368-1398)
Lot 3295. A rare incised and moulded white-glazed bowl, Hongwu period (1368-1398); 8 3/8 in. (21.2 cm.) diam. Estimate HKD 800,000 - HKD 1,500,000. Price Realized HKD 1,120,000. © Christie's Images Ltd 2013
The bowl is potted with thick, rounded sides rising to an everted mouth rim. The interior is incised with an S-form double-headed ruyi cloud motif, surrounded on the cavetto by a pair of moulded long-tailed phoenix in flight. Each with their wings out-stretched and divided by a single cluster of ruyi clouds. The bowl is covered with a transparent glaze, box.
Note: A small group of white-glazed bowls of this same pattern on the interior are published. The first dating to the Hongwu period is illustrated by J. Harrison-Hall, Ming Ceramics in the British Museum, London, 2001, p. 85, no. 2:1, where it is mentioned that the detailing of the mythical birds differentiates the male with its scrolling tail from the feathery tail of the female, ibid., p. 85. The second bowl, dating to the late 14th century, is illustrated by R. Krahl, Chinese Ceramics from the Meiyintang Collection, vol. 2, London, 1994, pl. 648. Two other bowls are known, one from the Percival David Foundation now housed at the British Museum, museum no. PDF A.451; and another is illustrated by J. Ayers, The Baur Collection, Geneva, 1969, A.142.
Christie's. Important Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art (Including The Su Zhu An Collection of Inkstones), Hong Kong, 27 November 2013