Lot 876. A group of three blue and white bowls with tall feet, Lê dynasty, 15th-16th century; 6, 5 and 4 7/8in (16.3, 12.7 and 12.2cm) diameter, 3 3/8, 3 1/8 and 3 3/8in (8.7, 8.5 and 8.7cm) high. Estimate US$ 1,500 - 2,000 (€1,300 - 1,700). Unsold. Photo: Bonhams.  

The largest loosely painted with a clam-shaped flower head at the base of the well reversed by a peony flower and leafy spray meander above jeweled lappets, the deeply recessed base finished with brown wash; the second, very carefully painted with a peony flower roundel at the base of the well, geometric bands on both sides of the rim, a lotus flower and leafy stem meander above jeweled lappets and the deeply recessed base also finished with brown wash; the third centered with an indistinct Chinese character written within a firing ring at the floor of the well, stylized chrysanthemum flower and leafy meander above a jeweled lappet band above the very tall foot and brown wash applied within the recessed base.   

Note: Tall footed bowls formed a major portion of the Hoi An Hoard and the output of the Chu Dao Kilns. For spiral flower heads at the center of the well and other decoration on the first bowl in this lot, see Butterfields sale, Treasures from the Hoi An Hoard, 11-13 October, 2000, lots 1487 to 1521. The second bowl in the lot with carefully drawn geometric bands and lotus flower meanders is related to a small group of bowls from the Hoi An Hoard offered in lots 1586 to 1593, as well lot 1643, the single stem cup preserved in the cargo. For examples identical to the third bowl in the lot excavated at the kiln site, see Tang Bo Hoanh, Gom Chu Dao [Chu Dao Ceramics], 1999, p. 102; and Philippe Truong, The Elephant and the Lotus: Vietnamese Ceramics in the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, New York, 2007, p. 196, no. 159 (as Ngoi and Chu Dau style, 16th century).

Bowl, Vietnamese, Lê dynasty, 16th century, Hanoi, Vietnam. Stoneware with cream wash, chocolate brown wash on base, underglaze cobalt blue decoration, unglazed stacking ring, Ngoi and Chu Dau style, 7.8 x 16.2 cm (3 1/16 x 6 3/8 in.). Anonymous gift, 1989.746 © Museum of Fine Arts, Boston

Catalogue Raisonné: Truong Philippe, The Elephant and the Lotus: Vietnamese Ceramics in the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, 2007 Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, Cat. 159

Bonhams. FINE ASIAN WORKS OF ART, 18 Dec 2017, 11:00 PST, SAN FRANCISCO