Lot 1443. A rare pair of yellow-ground famille rose 'medallion' bowls, Daoguang seal marks in underglaze blue and of the period (1821-1850); 5 13/16 in. (14.8 cm.) diam. Estimate USD 40,000 - USD 60,000. Price realised USD 74,500. © Christie's Image Ltd 2010.

Brightly enamelled around the exterior with three medallions enclosing rams in a garden setting, each medallion separated by a vase with flowers surrounded by auspicious objects, all reserved on a bright yellow sgraffiato ground, the interior finely painted in underglaze blue with a central medallion enclosing three further rams within double-line borders and beneath flowering branches, auspicious objects and clusters of lingzhi,box.

Provenance: Dragon House, Chicago, 1970s.

Note: Compare a Daoguang-marked bowl of this type illustrated by Wiesner in Chinesisches Porzellan, Germany, 1981, no. 143. Another yellow-ground example, also painted with roundels of rams, was sold in our London rooms, 12 May 2009, lot 171.