Lot 3196. A rare large blue and white 'Lotus Bouquet' dish, Ming dynasty, Yongle period (1403-1425); 41 cm., 16 1/8 in. Estimate 300,000—400,000 HKD. Lot Sol 524,000 HKD. Courtesy Sotheby's.

well potted with a broad flat base rising to shallow rounded sides, painted in the centre in vivid tones of cobalt with a lotus bouquet of thin lotus stalks, arrowhead, pondweed and millet tied together with a ribbon, enclosed on the cavetto with a composite floral scroll of camellia, chrysanthemum, lotus, and peony, all below a wave border, the exterior painted with a similar composite scroll between a band of 'classic' scroll around the mouth and key-fret around the base', the unglazed base fired to a bright orange.

Provenance: Christie's Hong Kong, 1st October 1991, lot 739.

Sotheby's. Fine Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art, Hong Kong, 08 april 2011