Lot 139. A blue and white 'Buddhist lions' saucer-dish, Xuande six-character mark and of the period (1426-1435); 14.9cm (5 13/15 in) diam. Estimate £ 20,000 - 30,000 (€ 22,000 - 34,000). Sold for £ 52,500 (€ 60,308). © Bonhams.

The finely potted dish with the low rounded sides and a slightly everted rim, the skilfully painted interior with two Buddhist lions gambolling around a ribboned brocade ball amidst various auspicious emblems, the exterior painted with further five lions, two gripping brocade balls in their jaws and the others grasping the flowing ribbons, all within double-line borders encircling the rims and gently tapered foot.

Provenance: Christie's Hong Kong, 28 November 2005, lot 1410
A European private collection

Note: Compare a similar but larger blue and white dish, Xuande mark and period, in the National Palace Museum, Taipei, illustrated in Catalogue of the Special Exhibition of Selected Hsüan-te Imperial Porcelains of the Ming Dynasty, Taipei, 1998, pp.410, pl.178.

Blue and white 'Buddhist lions' dish, Xuande mark and period, in the National Palace Museum, Taipei. Image courtesy of the National Palace Museum, Taipei.