A pair of small 'famille-rose' bowls. Qianlong seal marks and period

Each with curved sides culminating in an everted lip, the exterior decorated with a lush assemblage of drooping passion fruit borne on leafy and blossom-filled vines, bamboo and a fluttering butterfly, the vines and bamboo continuing over the rim into the interior of the bowl, picked out in green, red, yellow, purple and blue, the passion fruit seeds depicted in iron-red, all atop a short straight foot (2) - diameters 4 1/4 in., 10.8 cm - Estimate: 12,000—15,000 USD

NOTE : A pair of Qianlong-marked bowls of this pattern is in the collection of the Percival David Foundation of Art, London, with one published in the Illustrated Catalogue of Ch'ing Enamelled Wares, section 2, London, 1958, pl. X, no. 897, and the other in Oriental Ceramics. The World's Great Collections, vol. 6, Tokyo, 1982, pl. 274. A closely related example in the Musee Guimet is illustrated in Oriental Ceramics. The World's Great Collections, vol. 7, Tokyo, 1981, col. pl. 91; and another in the Tokyo National Museum is included in the Illustrated Catalogue of Tokyo National Museum. Chinese Ceramics, vol. II, Tokyo, 1990, cat. no. 660. Compare also a bowl sold at Christie's New York, 19th September 2006, lot 425; one sold in our Hong Kong rooms, 5th November 1996, lot 889; and another pair sold in these rooms, 31st May 1989, lot 218.

Sotheby's. Fine Chinese Ceramics & Works of Art including Chinese and Japanese Art from The Collection of Frieda and Milton Rosenthal. 16 Sep 08. www.sotheby's.com