Lot 165. . Photo: Bonhams 2014.

Centrally painted with a double vajra issuing from a stylised lotus petal medallion framed by a mandala and billowing ribbons, the exterior further accentuated with three rows of evenly-spaced lanca characters, the base with an Imperial six-character kaishu mark in underglaze-blue. 

Provenance : Sotheby's Hong Kong, 29 October 1991, lot 137

Note: The vishvavajra, or double thunderbolt is generally depicted as formed of four lotus-mounted vajra heads that emanate from a central hub towards the four cardinal directions. It symbolises the principle or stability and supports which underlies the entire universe, and is regarded as the immovable support or foundation for the mandala palace. Hence the sacred place at which Shakyamuni Buddha attained enlightenment is known as the 'vajra-seat' or vajrasana. The immovable posture at which the deity is seated is also referred to as the 'vajra-posture' or vajra paryanka.

Blue and white 'lanca' saucer dish dated to the Yongzheng period are rare and only limited examples were sold at auction. Compare a rare and identical example sold at Sotheby's Hong Kong, 9 October 2012, lot 3087.

Bonhams. FINE CHINESE CERAMICS AND WORKS OF ART, Hong Kong, Admiralty, 26 May 2014