Lot 2637. A large and rare celadon-glazed basin, seal mark and period of Qianlong (1736-1795); 40.8 cm., 16 in. Estimate 4,000,000 — 6,000,000 HKD. Lot Sold 4,340,000  HKD. Courtesy Sotheby's 2010.

the deep rounded sides rising from a slightly concave base to a wide flaring rim, carved and slip-decorated to the interior with a shou medallion encircled by the wufu ('Five Bats'), the rim with four large ruyi and carp strapwork panels, the exterior with jagged rocks emerging from tumultuous foaming waves, covered overall in a soft bluish-green glaze thinning to white on the raised areas, the base with a six-character seal mark. 

Provenance: A Japanese Collection.
Yamanaka Co. Ltd. (by repute).

Note: This impressive basin is extremely rare and no related example of these proportions appears to have been published. While elements of the decoration are known on smaller celadon-glazed dishes, the basin is unique for its massive proportions and form. A much smaller and shallower celadon-glazed basin, with a narrower keyfret-decorated rim and carved with the Eight Trigrams around a yinyang medallion, also with a Qianlong reign mark and of the period, was sold in these rooms, 17th November 1975, lot 152. 

The form of this basin is reminiscent of early Ming blue and white basins of slightly smaller proportions which were reproduced during the Qianlong reign. Although the blue and white versions were potted with a deeper well, the present piece shares the slightly curved sides and severe everted rim of the Ming version. For a Yongle prototype, see one from the Barros collection, sold in our London rooms, 2nd December 1997, lot 200, together with a Qianlong example, with a reign mark and of the period, lot 201. The form appears to originate from a fourteenth-century Mamluk brass basin as illustrated, for example, in Regina Krahl, 'Unequal Twins. A Yongle Blue and White Basin and its Qianlong Counterpart', Arts of Asia, November/December 1997, p. 125. 

Yongzheng dishes incised with a central shou character surrounded by the wufu and waves with cloud scrolls at the well and carved on the exterior with bats hovering above crashing waves and the triple Islands of Paradise appear to have served as the inspiration for the design of the current basin. See a pair of dishes, from the Hall Family Collection, sold twice in these rooms, 28th November 1978, lot 184, and again, 2nd May 2000, lot 532.

This basin comprises many auspicious motifs; the combination of the shou character, bats and ruyi represents the wish for blessings, longevity and the fulfilment of all wishes, while the double carp motifs around the rim symbolise the wish for connubial bliss, fecundity and an abundance of good luck.

Sotheby's. Fine Chinese Ceramics & Works of Art, 08 Oct 10 11:00 AM, Hong Kong