A Meissen lobed dish, circa 1725-30. Photo: Bonhams.

After a Chinese Ding or Qing dynasty original, of lobed form with moulded panels of Chinese flowers including peonies in low relief, the slightly recessed rim also following the original, 15.3cm diam, crossed swords mark in underglaze-blue, two impressed dots on the inside of the rim. Estimate £2,000 - 3,000 (€2,500 - 3,700)

Provenance: Anon. sale, Christie's London, 1 July 1985, lot 207

Literature: U. Pietsch, Frühes Meissener Porzellan aus einer Privatsammlung (1993), no. 87

Exhibited: Lübeck, Museum für Kunst und Kulturgeschichte der Hansestadt Lübeck - St. Annen-Museum, 'Frühes Meissener Porzellan aus einer Privatsammlung', 14 November 1993-31 January 1994;
Aachen, Museen der Stadt Aachen - Couven Museum, 'Frühes Meissener Porzellan aus einer Privatsammlung', 26 February-20 April 1994

Six dishes of the same size and decoration were sold in the first sale of duplicates from the Johanneum, Lepke's Kunst-Auctions-Haus, Berlin, 7-8 October 1919, lots 117-122. It is not clear whether only lots 117 and 118 were marked with the Japanese Palace inventory number 108W, or if indeed the four following lots, only described in the catalogue as 'Zwei desgleichen. Ebenso', [two of the same. same], also had inventory numbers. Forty-three dishes are listed under number 108 in the 1770 inventory of the Japanese Palace: 'Drey und Vierzig Stück gemuschelte Confect-Schäälgen, 1½. Zoll tief, 6½. Zoll in Diam: No.108' [forty-three lobed confectionary dishes...] (quoted by C.Boltz, Japanisches Palais-Inventar 1770 und Turm-Zimmer Inventar 1769, in Keramos 153 (1996), p. 74).

Bonhams. FINE EUROPEAN CERAMICS. London, New Bond Street, 18 Jun 2014 - http://www.bonhams.com/