Lot 3101. A fine and rare celadon-glazed 'lingzhi and bamboo' saucer dish, Mark and period of Yongzheng (1723-1735); 11.7 cm, 4 5/8  in. Estimate 380,000 — 500,000 HKD. Lot sold 687,500 HKD. Courtesy Sotheby's

finely potted with rounded sides rising from a short tapered foot, the exterior applied with a soft sea-green glaze and delicately incised with a continuous leafy scroll bearing five lingzhi heads amidst bamboo leaves, the interior and base left white, the latter inscribed with a six-character reign mark in underglaze blue within a double circle.

Provenance: A private collection, Rome, 1980.
A European private collection.
Christie's Hong Kong, 1st June 2011, lot 3518 (one of a pair).

Exhibited: Recent Acquisitions, Marchant, London, 2012, cat. no. 35.

It is with great pleasure, in association with Sotheby’s, to be holding an auction of Qing Imperial Porcelain to coincide with my forthcoming retirement. After sixty-seven years in the business and having enjoyed every minute, it feels a good time to retire and leave Marchant. Now in its 95th year, the company is left in the capable hands of my eldest son Stuart, the third generation, together with Samuel and Natalie, both the fourth generation.

Marchant’s association with Sotheby’s goes back a long way. The founder, Samuel Sidney Marchant (1898-1975), attended the famous Eumorphopulus auction at Sotheby’s London in May 1940. One of the people who helped and advised me in my early days was A.J.B. ‘Jim’ Kiddell who was head of the Chinese department at Sotheby’s London. I fondly remember him putting his arm around my shoulder and giving me advice. After he retired, the good relationship continued with the late Julian Thompson, a world authority and head of Sotheby’s Chinese department, and later chairman of Sotheby’s, he is greatly missed. In 1973, Sotheby’s began their Hong Kong auctions and I attended most of them throughout the 1970s and 80s. My son Stuart then began attending the auctions and we continue to this day to have a positive relationship.

It has been a great adventure, travelling the world, meeting wonderful and interesting people and forming memories which I will always treasure. One of the most remarkable and perhaps surprising aspects has been the continual change of taste over the passing years. As a young man, I was attracted to Qing Imperial porcelain in spite of the fact that it was far less popular than Ming porcelain. My appreciation for Qing has continued throughout my life, always focusing on quality, condition and provenance. I trust that this group reflects my love and standards and hope that these pieces find new homes with people who have the same passion as I have.

Richard P. Marchant
April 2020