Lot 130. A yellow-ground green-enameled 'dragon and phoenix' bowl, Mark and period of Kangxi (1662-1722). Diameter 4¾ in., 12 cm . Estimate: 7,000 - 9,000 USD. Lot sold: 22,680 USD. © Sotheby's 2021

the deep rounded sides supported on a straight foot, brightly decorated around the exterior with two pairs of dragon and phoenix amongst stylized clouds above a band of petal lappets, the interior painted with a central 'shou' medallion, the designs all incised and picked out in bright green enamel against a rich yellow ground, the base with a six-character mark in underglaze blue within a double circle.

Property from the Collection of David and Louise Carter.

Provenance: Acquired prior to 1977, and thence by descent.

Note: A pair of similarly decorated bowls is illustrated in John Ayers, Chinese Porcelain: The S.C. Ko Tianminlou Collection Part I, Hong Kong, 1987, pl. 88. See also three closely related examples, one sold in our London rooms, 11th November 2015, lot 45; another sold in Christie's Hong Kong, 2nd November 1999, lot 574; and the third sold in our Hong Kong rooms, 30th April 1991, lot 131.  

David G. Carter and Louise Belknap met at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in the Museum’s library stacks where she was cataloguing for her first job after graduating as an Art History major from Bryn Mawr. David had a newly established fellowship at the Museum after completing his doctoral studies at the Institute of Fine Arts, New York University. Prior to his doctorate, David had been an Art & Archeology major at Princeton University in a wartime accelerated class, served as a diplomatic courier for the U.S. State Department during the Second World War, and earned a Masters degree from Harvard University. In 1951 he married Louise and became Director of the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts. David and Louise pursued their passion for art by building a superb collection that they enjoyed for 63 wonderful years together. 

Sotheby's. Important Chinese Art, New York, 21 September 2021