Lot 883. A rare Cizhou 'lotus'  bowl, lianzi wan, Early Ming Dynasty (1368-1644); 11.5cm diam. Sold for HK$217,600 (Estimate HK$80,000-120,000). © Bonhams 2001-2023

Of conical form, finely potted in the shape of a lotus pod, lianzi, the exterior painted in dark brown tones with a broad band of overlapping lotus petals, further decorated with a band of geometric pattern at the rim and around the foot, the interior delicately painted with a central medallion of a quatrefoil motif, surrounded by a similar band of geometric pattern within a circle, further enclosed by a band of interlocking heptagonal in Arab style, all below a narrow band of leafy scroll.

Note: The present bowl is remarkably rare for its resemblance to the iconic lianzi bowl, but unusually in a Cizhou painted decoration. It is interesting to note that the shape can be seen on blue and white wares made in the imperial kilns at Jingdezhen during the Yongle and Xuande period, see a Yongle bowl with almost identical design of interlocking floral pattern, in the collection of Palace Museum, Beijing, illustrated in Gugong bowuyuan cang Ming chu qinghua ci [Early Ming blue and white porcelain in the Palace Museum], vol. 1, Beijing, 2002, p. 122, pl. 64. Compare another blue and white example illustrated by John A. Pope in Chinese Porcelain from the Ardebil Shrine, Washington D.C., 1956, pl. 47, no. 29.326.

It is possible that the Cizhou kiln and the Jingdezhen kiln once both followed the same court-ordered patterns and specifications, while Jingdezhen wares showcased the design in red or blue underglaze, whlie Cizhou wares carefully applied slip and painted decoration, to achieve the same decorations with unparalleled craftsmanship.

Bonhams. FINE CHINESE CERAMICS AND WORKS OF ART, 29 November 2023, Hong Kong, Admiralty