Lot 122. A blue and white 'narrative' shallow bowl, Kangxi period (1662-1722); 6 3/8 in. (16.1 cm.) diam. Estimate HK$70,000 – HK$90,000 ($9,067 - $11,657). Price realised HKD 187,500. Photo Christie's Image Ltd 2016

The dish is decorated with a scene from the 'Romance of the Western Chamber', Xi Xiang Ji, depicting the scene at the Buddhist Pu Jiu temple where Zhang Sheng meets Cui Yingying and her mother, surrounded by Buddhist monks playing instruments before an altar. Inscribed with a two-line inscription describing the scene. The underside base with an apocryphal Jiajing six-character mark, box.

Literature: S. Little, Chinese Ceramics of the Transitional Period 1620-1683, New York, 1984, no. 54

Exhibited: China Institute in America, New York, New York, Chinese Ceramics of the Transitional Period 1620-1683, 21 October 1983-29 January 1984
Kimball Art Museum, Fort Worth, Texas, Chinese Ceramics of the Transitional Period 1620-1683, 26 May-26 August 1984

Note: The inscription reads Zhong sheng Fo Hao, ban tian feng yu sa song shao, which has been translated by S.I. Hsiung,The Romance of the Western Chamber (Xi Xiang Ji), New York, 1968, p. 42, to read:

'The ringing of the bell, and the invocation to Buddha;
Are like a sudden storm of wind and rain among the pine trees.'

Christie's. THE PAVILION SALE - CHINESE CERAMICS AND WORKS OF ART, 5 April 2016, Hong Kong