Lot 3981. A fine large early Ming white-glazed anhua-decorated bowl, Xuande six-character mark within double-circles and of the period (1426-1435); 8 3/8 in. (21.2 cm.) diam. Estimate 1,000,000 - HKD 1,500,000. Price realised HKD 980,000. © Christie's Images Ltd 2012.

The bowl is potted with deep rounded sides. It is intricately incised to the exterior with two bands of lotus petals below a frieze of stylised waves around the mouth rim. The interior is decorated with a medallion in the centre enclosing pomegrantes and leaves within double-circles, surrounded by a ring of scrolls further encircled by a continuous band of lotus blossoms, under a keyfret border at the mouth rim. The bowl is covered overall with an even white glaze with a faint bluish tinge.

Provenance: Carl Kempe Collection
Sold at Sotheby's Paris, 12 June 2008, lot 44.

Literature: Bo Gyllensvard, Chinese Ceramics in the Carl Kempe Collection, Stockholm, 1964, pl. 676
Chinese Ceramic Treasures: A Selection From The Ulricehamn East Asian Museum, Including The Carl Kempe Collection, Ulricehamn, 2002, p. 376, no. 867.

Exhibited: Palazzo Ducale, Venice, Exhibition of Chinese Art, 1954, no. 593.

Note: Compare with three bowls of similar size but with composite scroll incised decoration on the interior, the first from the National Palace Museum Collection, Taipei, illustrated in Catalogue of the Special Exhibition of Selected Hsuan-te Imperial Porcelains of the Ming Dynasty, Taipei, 1998, p. 361, no. 153; the second from the Cunliffe Collection, sold at Bonhams London, 11 November 2002, lot 66; the third sold at Christie's Hong Kong, 1 June 2011, lot 3727.