Lot 2238. A rare large Longquan celadon bowl, Yongle period (1403-1425); 10 3/4 in. (27. 5 cm.) diam. Estimate HKD 600,000 - HKD 800,000. Price realised HKD 1,410,000. © Christie's Images Ltd 2013

The bowl has deep rounded sides rising to a straight rim and stands on a short foot ring, it is covered all over in a thick, even celadon glaze of olive green tone, with a circle in the interior of the foot ring left unglazed to expose the body, Japanese lacquer cover dated to the Edo period, 18th century, inscribed Japanese wood box.

Provenance: A Japanese private collection, acquired in the early 20th century 

Note: A bowl of similar form but smaller in size is in the collection of the National Palace Museum, Taipei and illustrated in Green - Longquan Celadon of the Ming Dynasty, Taipei, 2009, no. 14, p. 46-7. Another larger example was excavated in the Yongle strata of the Longquan kiln site at Fengdongyan, and illustrated in Longquan Ware: Chinese Celadon Beloved of the Japanese, Yamaguchi Prefecture, 2012, p. 121, no. 152. For a discussion on Ming Imperial Longquan wares, see the footnote of lot 2239 of the current sale. 

Christie's. Imperial Sale; Important Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art, 29 May 2013, Hong Kong, HKCEC Grand Hall