A pair of famille rose eggshell saucer dishes. Yongzheng. Photo Bonhams

Note: In the early 20th century, eggshell famille rose porcelain of this type was one of the most expensive categories of Chinese 18th century porcelain collected by great Western collectors like J.P.Morgan, W.G.Gulland, and above all the famous English collector W.Martin-Hurst. The latter had a huge collection of eggshell porcelain in his house in Surrey, which served as the basis for English scholarship about famille rose at the time. The best known book drawing on the Martin-Hurst collection is the one by G.C.Williamson, The Book of Famille Rose, where he illustrates a number of plates and dishes similar to the present lot, notably on pl. XXXIII (centre) and also pl. XLIX (top left).

Bonhams. Chinese & other Asian Works of Art, 29 Feb 2012. London, Knightsbridge www.bonhams.com