Lot 3009. A fine blue and white 'Double vajra' dish, Yongzheng six-character mark in underglaze blue within a double circle and of the period (1736-1795); 6 7/8 in. (17.4 cm.). Estimate HKD 300,000 - HKD 500,000. Price realised HKD 875,000. © Christie's Images Ltd 2017

The dish is painted in the interior with a double-vajra symbol tied with ribbons and on the exterior with three registers of Sanskrit characters, all within double line borders, box.

Note: Yongzheng dishes of this design were made in two sizes. Compare a pair of smaller dishes (11.1 cm.) sold at Christie’s Hong Kong, 1 June 2011, lot 3919. Larger versions, similer size to the current dish, include one in the Asian Art Museum, San Francisco, illustrated by He Li, Chinese Ceramics, 1996, pl. 591; and another pair from the Falk Collection, sold at Christie’s New York, 16 October 2001, lot 156.

A fine pair of blue and white saucer dishes, Yongzheng six-character mark within double-circles and of the period (1723-1735); 4 3/8 in. (11.1 cm.) diam. Sold for HKD 1,040,000  at Christie’s Hong Kong, 1 June 2011, lot 3919. © Christie's Images Ltd 2011

Each painted in the interior with a double-vajra symbol tied with ribbons and on the exterior with three registers of Sanskrit characters, all within double line borders.

Note: Dishes of this design have been sold at auction, such as the pair sold at Sotheby's New York, 22 March 2001, lot 105. Larger versions include one in the Asian Art Museum, San Francisco, illustrated by He Li, Chinese Ceramics, 1996, pl. 591; and another pair from the Falk Collection, sold at Christie's New York, 16 October 2001, lot 156.

The decoration on these dishes is based on Ming Chenghua prototypes. Compare with a dish with the double-vajra on the interior, illustrated by J. Harrison-Hall, Ming Ceramics in the British Museum, London, 2001, pl. 6:10; and the cups with rows of Sanskrit characters, included in the exhibition, A Legacy of Chenghua, The Tsui Museum of Art, Hong Kong, 1993, illustrated in the Catalogue, nos. C62-C64.

Shallow bowl, Qing dynasty (1644-1911), Reign of the Yongzheng emperor (1723-1735), China, Jiangxi province. Porcelain with underglaze-blue decoration, qinghua ware. H. 1 5/8 in x Diam. 6 7/8 in, H. 4.2 cm x Diam. 17.5 cm. Gift of Arthur Leeper in memory of Hiroshi Sonami, B87P12 © 2017 Asian Art Museum Chong-Moon Lee Center for Asian Art and Culture

A Fine Pair of Blue and White Dishes, Yongzheng six-character marks in underglaze blue within a double circle and of the period (1723-1735), Falk Collection no. 288; 6 7/8in. (17.5cm.) diam. Sold for USD 11,750 at Christie’s New York, 16 October 2001, lot 156. © Christie's Images Ltd 2001

Christie's. Important Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art, 29 November 2017, Hong Kong