Lot 159. A 'boneless' famille rose 'floral' bowl, Yongzheng six-character mark and of the period (1723-1735); 18.7cm (7 1/2in) diam. Estimate £ 10,000 - 15,000 (€ 11,000 - 17,000). Sold for £ 56,250 (€ 64,615). © Bonhams.

Delicately potted with deep rounded sides rising from a straight foot, superbly decorated in the 'boneless' technique in soft pastel enamels with two large peonies in blush pink tones with smaller attendant blooms and buds, borne on broad leaves furled to reveal their undersides and rendered in varying shades of vivid green, accompanied by two chrysanthemums depicted sprouting across the surface, with a single descending butterfly depicted on the reverse.

Note: The present lot is notable for its unique style of enamelling which reflects the innovative developments and fresh confidence of craftsmen working during the Yongzheng emperor's reign. Decorated in a technique known as the 'boneless style' for its virtually skeleton and outline-free design, the only lines incorporated into the composition are the lines used to define the veins on the leaves and butterflies. Although this technique was known in painting, it was not widely used on porcelain decoration, most likely because it was too complicated to use on a mass-production scale. It represented a great challenge to the artists as lesser-skilled painters would require outlines to complete their sections of decoration, and if not handled correctly it would give the impression that the piece was unfinished.

Compare with a similar famille rose bowl, Yongzheng mark and of the period, illustrated in The Complete Collection of Treasures of the Palace Museum: Falangcai and Famille-Rose, Hong Kong, 1999, pl.73. 

See also a very similar bowl, Yongzheng mark and period, which was sold at Sotheby's Hong Kong, 6 April 2016, lot 3620.

A fine 'boneless' famille-rose 'floral' bowl, mark and period of Yongzheng (1723-1735); 18.9 cm, 7 3/8  in. Sold for 1,500,000 HKD at Sotheby's Hong Kong, 6 April 2016, lot 3620. © Sotheby's.