A rare blue and white shallow bowl, Daoguang six-character mark in underglaze blue within a double circle and of the period (1821-1850) © Christie's Image 2003

The exterior of the shallow rounded body painted with squirrels scampering amidst fruiting grape vines, within double-line borders - 8 11/16in. (22cm.) diam. Lot 325. Estimate $6,000 - $8,000. Price Realized $5,975 

Provenance: Christie's, New York, 21 March 2002, lot 211. 

Notes: The unusual decoration on this bowl can also be seen on a bowl of Qianlong date, of equally large size, but with deep rounded sides, illustrated in Zhongguo taoci daxi; qingdai taoci daquan, Taipei, 1987/89, p. 223. 

Christie's. FINE CHINESE CERAMICS AND WORKS OF ART, 18 September 2003, New York, Rockefeller Plaza