Masterpieces of Ming dynasty Monochrome from the Ise Collection to be sold at Sotheby's

10 septembre 2025

Masterpieces of Ming dynasty Monochrome from the Ise Collection to be sold at Sotheby's

Lot 5048. A yellow-glazed dish, Mark and period of Hongzhi (1488-1505); 21.6 cm. Estimate 1,000,000-2,000,000 HKD. Lot sold 1,397,000 HKD. © Sotheby's 2025

with shallow rounded sides resting on a tapered foot, applied overall with an even pale yellow glaze, the base left white and inscribed with a six-character reign mark in underglaze blue within a double circle, Japanese wood box.

Provenance: Collection of Edward T. Hall (1924-2001), coll. no. 113.

Sotheby's Hong Kong, 2nd May 2000, lot 503 (one of a pair).

Mayuyama & Co., Ltd, Tokyo.

Literature: Chugoku Toji. Ise Korekushon / Chinese Ceramics. The Ise Collection, Tokyo, 2012, p. 68.

Exhibited: The Ceramic Art of China, Arts Council of Great Britain and Oriental Ceramic Society, Victoria and Albert Museum, London, 1971, cat. no. 161.

Chugoku Toji Meihin Ten Ise Korekushon no Shiho / Masterpieces of Chinese Ceramic Art Exhibition, Ishikawa Prefectural Museum of Art, Ishikawa, 2012, cat. no. 54.

Shika Meisai: Ise Korekushon no Meito / Imperial Colors: Peerless Chinese Porcelains from the Ise Collection, Gotoh Museum, Tokyo, 2015, cat. no. 3.

Ise Korekushon Sekai wo Miryoshita Chugokutoji / The Enchanting Chinese Ceramics from the Ise Collection, Museum of Oriental Ceramics, Osaka, 2017, cat. no. 52.

Note: A closely related dish from the Qing Court collection and still in Beijing is illustrated in The Complete Collection of Treasures of the Palace Museum. Monochrome Porcelain, Hong Kong, 1999, pl. 3; another in the Taipei Palace Museum is published in Minji meihin zuroku [Illustrated catalogue of important Ming porcelains], vol. 2, Tokyo, 1977, pl. 78. One of the very rare examples of imperial Chinese dishes of this type to have reached the Near or Middle East is illustrated in Regina Krahl, Chinese Ceramics in the Topkapi Saray Museum, Istanbul, London, 1986, vol. 2, pl. 774, and again in colour, p. 447. Compare also one from the Leshantang Collection, sold in these rooms, 9th April 2024, lot 126; and the pair to the current dish, also from the collection of Edward T. Hall, sold in these rooms, 2nd May 2000, lot 503.

Lot 5049. A fine yellow-glazed bowl, Mark and period of Zhengde (1506-1521); 16.1 cm. Estimate 1,000,000-2,000,000 HKD. Lot sold 1,016,000 HKD. © Sotheby's 2025

well potted with deep rounded sides rising from a straight foot to a flared rim, evenly covered overall with a warm yellow glaze, the base left white and inscribed in underglaze blue with a six-character reign mark within a double circle, Japanese wood box.

Provenance: Mayuyama & Co., Ltd, Tokyo, acquired in London.

Literature: Chugoku Toji. Ise Korekushon / Chinese Ceramics. The Ise Collection, Tokyo, 2012, p. 69.

Exhibited: Chugoku Toji Meihin Ten Ise Korekushon no Shiho / Masterpieces of Chinese Ceramic Art Exhibition, Ishikawa Prefectural Museum of Art, Ishikawa, 2012, cat. no. 56.

Shika Meisai: Ise Korekushon no Meito / Imperial Colors: Peerless Chinese Porcelains from the Ise Collection, Gotoh Museum, Tokyo, 2015, cat. no. 4.

Ise Korekushon Sekai wo Miryoshita Chugokutoji / The Enchanting Chinese Ceramics from the Ise Collection, Museum of Oriental Ceramics, Osaka, 2017, cat. no. 53.

Note: Deceptively simple in form and colour, the production of monochrome porcelain such as the present imperial yellow bowl requires the highest level of skill and utmost precision from the purity of the clay, potting, firing to glazing, which entails the application of low-fired yellow lead glaze onto high-fired white-glazed porcelain. The slightest irregularity or smallest imperfection would result in the rejection and destruction of the entire piece. Aptly termed 'imperial yellow', yellow glaze had always been reserved for imperial court use since the introduction of yellow monochrome porcelain at the beginning of the Ming dynasty, though on rare occasions, yellow porcelain wares were also presented as diplomatic gifts to political and religious leaders beyond China. The present bowl is notable for its smooth, even and soft yellow glaze, characteristic of imperial yellow wares of the Zhengde reign (1506–21) and ultimately became one of the most coveted yellow colours of the Ming dynasty after Hongzhi. This aesthetically pleasing shade of yellow was ingeniously achieved through a slight increase in the amount of iron oxide in glaze solution.

Lot 5052. A yellow-glazed dish, Mark and period of Jiajing (1522-1566); 22.2 cm. Estimate 600,000-800,000 HKD. Lot sold 1,270,000 HKD. © Sotheby's 2025

with shallow rounded sides resting on a tapered foot, applied overall with a rich yellow glaze, the white base inscribed with a six-character reign mark in underglaze blue within a double circle, Japanese wood box.

Provenance: Sydney L. Moss Ltd, London.

Collection of Lord Cunliffe (1899-1963), coll. no. PM77.

Bonhams London, 11th November 2002, lot 79.

Mayuyama & Co., Ltd, Tokyo.

Literature: Chugoku Toji. Ise Korekushon / Chinese Ceramics. The Ise Collection, Tokyo, 2012, p. 68.

Exhibited: Chugoku Toji Meihin Ten Ise Korekushon no Shiho / Masterpieces of Chinese Ceramic Art Exhibition, Ishikawa Prefectural Museum of Art, Ishikawa, 2012, cat. no. 65.

Shika Meisai: Ise Korekushon no Meito / Imperial Colors: Peerless Chinese Porcelains from the Ise Collection, Gotoh Museum, Tokyo, 2015, cat. no. 19.

Lot 5067. A turquoise-glazed vase, yuhuchunping, Ming dynasty, 16th - 17th century; 33 cm. Estimate 300,000-600,000 HKD. Lot sold 304,800 HKD. © Sotheby's 2025

well potted with a pear-shaped body rising from a foot with a lipped rim to a waisted neck and flared rim, covered overall save for the base and inner foot with a translucent finely crackled turquoise glaze, Japanese wood box.

Provenance: Collection of Sir William Cornelius Van Horne (1843-1915), and thence by descent within the family.

Christie's New York, 15th September 2011, lot 1559.

Mayuyama & Co., Ltd, Tokyo.

Literature: Chugoku Toji. Ise Korekushon / Chinese Ceramics. The Ise Collection, Tokyo, 2012, p. 68.

Exhibited: Shika Meisai: Ise Korekushon no Meito / Imperial Colors: Peerless Chinese Porcelains from the Ise Collection, Gotoh Museum, Tokyo, 2015, cat. no. 11.

Sotheby's. Masterpieces of Chinese Ceramics from the Ise Collection, Hong Kong, 9 September 2025