A rare blue and white Portuguese armorial bowl - Second half 16th century

With deep rounded sides rising from the short foot, the interior with a central medallion painted with a coat of arms containing six geometric forms divided by a Pallet and two Bars framed by sinuous foliate mantling reserved on an underglaze blue ground, the exterior decorated with four peony blossoms alternating with sprigs below a classic scroll border around the rim (firing imperfections). 21cm (8¼in) diam. Estimate: £4,000 - 6,000  - Sold for £22,000 plus Premium and tax

Footnote: For a related armorial dish attributed as the arms of Almeida or Melo, with a similar shield but surmounted by a barred helmet and dated to circa 1585, see Nuno de Castro, A Ceramica e a Porcelana Chinesas, Porto, 1992, Vol.2, pl.75 and A. Varela Santos, Portugal in Porcelain from China 500 Years of Trade, Lisbon, 2007, Vol.1, p.164.

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Bonhams. Asian Art including Fine Bronzes, 26 Feb 2008. New Bond Street