Lot 3179. A rare Ming incised Longquan celadon dish, Hongwu period (1368-1398); 7 1/2 in. (19 cm.) diam. Estimate HK$300,000 - HK$400,000 ($38,891 - $51,854). Price realized HK$275,000 ($35,650). © Christie's Image Ltd 2015

The dish is sturdily potted with shallow rounded sides rising to a flat everted rim and covered overall in a glaze of an even sea-green tone. The interior is incised to the centre with a single lotus spray enclosed within triple lines, surrounded by a continuous lotus scroll with six flowerheads on leafy vines, all below the rim decorated with a keyfret border, Japanese wood box

Provenance: Daitoji temple (by repute), Kyoto, the Japanese box was inscribed by the monk Giokshu who was active at the temple in the late 17th century

Note: The motif of the current dish is more commonly found on decoration in underglaze-red, or underglaze-blue. These dishes decorated with similiar flower scrolls are found on cupstands as well. Examples were included in the Hong Kong Oriental Ceramic Society exhibition, Jingdezhen Wares - The Yuan Evolution, Hong Kong, 1984 also illustrated in the catalogue nos. 140, 141, 149.

Compare to a celadon dish and a celadon cupstand with similar decoration also illustrated in the catalogue, no. 161 and 163. The dish is similarly potted with an everted rim and incised with a central lotus medallion surrounded by a lotus scroll and keyfret border. 

Christie's. IMPORTANT CHINESE CERAMICS AND WORKS OF ART, Hong Kong, 2 December 2015