A Rare Doucai Dish. Kangxi Six-Character Mark in Underglaze Blue within a Double Circle and of the Period (1662-1722). photo Christie's Ltd 2011

With shallow rounded sides, the interior painted with a central medallion of a crane enclosed within a peach superimposed on a large blue shou character, below a ruyi band formed by conjoined tendrils expanding into vapor that frames alternating shou medallions and peach sprigs, the exterior with three vignettes of bamboo and lingzhi amidst rocks; 8¼ in. (21 cm.) diam. Estimate $200,000 - $300,000. Price Realized $338,500

Provenance: Hugh Moss Ltd., London, 1972.

Notes: A similar dish, also with Kangxi mark, formerly in the Grandidier Collection and now in the collection of the Musée Guimet, Paris, is illustrated in Oriental Ceramics, the World's Great Collections, vol. 7, Tokyo, 1981, col. pl. 86. Another example, with Yongzheng mark, is illustrated in Gems of Chinese Art: Selections of Ceramics and Bronzes from the Tsui Art Foundation, Hong Kong, 1992, pl. 106. See, also, the similar Kangxi-marked doucaidish sold in our London rooms, 6 November 2007, lot 174.Notes

A similar dish, also with Kangxi mark, formerly in the Grandidier Collection and now in the collection of the Musée Guimet, Paris, is illustrated in Oriental Ceramics, the World's Great Collections, vol. 7, Tokyo, 1981, col. pl. 86. Another example, with Yongzheng mark, is illustrated in Gems of Chinese Art: Selections of Ceramics and Bronzes from the Tsui Art Foundation, Hong Kong, 1992, pl. 106. See, also, the similar Kangxi-marked doucai dish sold in our London rooms, 6 November 2007, lot 174.

Christie's. Fine Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art Part I & II,  15 - 16 September 2011. New York, Rockefeller Plaza. www.christies.com