Lot 77. A rare large carved cinnabar lacquer square dish, Ming dynasty (1368-1644); 39.5cm., 15 1/2 in. Sold 180,000 GBP (Estimate 10,000 - 15,000 GBP). © Sotheby's. 

the rounded sides with indented corners, decorated to the interior with a pair of opposing phoenix in flight, both with spread wings and finely incised feathers, hovering in front of large stems of lotus issuing from rocks, bearing ten blooms, carved in relief through the bright brick-red lacquer down to a black guideline against a star-diaper ground and enclosed within a grooved, barbed quatrefoil band, the four corners with four smaller phoenix in front of flowering chrysanthemum, camellia, peony and pomegranate sprays, the exterior carved with a matching composite flower scroll incorporating chrysanthemum, camellia, rose and pomegranate blooms, the base lacquered brownish black and inscribed with a six-character Xuande reign mark, incised in a vertical line and gilded.

Provenance: Collection of Sir Percival David.
Collection of Mrs. Walter Sedgwick.
Collection of Edward T. Chow.
Collection of Mrs Virginia K. Chow.

Exhibited: The Arts of the Ming Dynasty, Oriental Ceramic Society, London 1957, cat. no. 237.

One Man's Taste, Treasures from the Lakeside Pavilion, The Galleries of the Baur Collection, Geneva, 1988-9, cat. no. L7, also illustrated p.5 top.

Sotheby's. Fine Chinese Ceramics & Works Of Art, London, 15 May 2007