Lot 575. An imperial yellow-glazed dish, Hongzhi six-character mark in underglaze blue within a double circle and of the period (1488-1505); 8½ in. (21.5 cm.) diam. Estimate USD 8,000 - USD 10,000. Price realised USD 11,875. © Christie's Image Ltd 2008.

The well-potted, rounded sides rising from a slightly tapering foot ring, covered inside and out with a crackled glaze of pale lemon-yellow tone.

Provenance: R.F.A. Riesco Collection, no. 193. 

Note: Compare other Hongzhi-marked, yellow-glazed dishes of this size in the Avery Brundage Collection illustrated by Lion-Goldschmidt, Ming Porcelain, New York, 1981, pl. 113; illustrated in the Asia Society Handbook of Mr. and Mrs. John D. Rockefeller 3rd Collection, Asia Society, New York, 1970, p. 79 (top); two in the Percival David Foundation, Catalogue, section 6, nos. 591 and 599; one from the Collection of Dr. and Mrs. E.T. Hall included in the O.C.S. Jubilee Exhibition, The Ceramic Art of China, London, 1971, no. 161, pl. 114; one illustrated by R. Krahl, Chinese Ceramics in the Topkapi Saray Museum, vol. II, London, 1986, col. pl. 774; and one from the Tianminlou Collection included in the Min Chiu Society Thirtieth Anniversary Exhibition, Selected Treasures of Chinese Art, Hong Kong Museum of Art, 1990, no. 154.

Lot 578. An imperial yellow-glazed dish, Zhengde six-character mark in underglaze blue within a double circle and of the period (1506-1521); 6 7/8 in. (17 cm.) diam. Estimate USD 8,000 - USD 12,000. Price realised USD 39,400. © Christie's Image Ltd 2008.

The shallow rounded sides flaring to a slightly everted rim from the tapered ring foot, covered inside and out with a glaze of rich egg yolk-yellow color.

Property from the Collection of Neil and Sharon Phillips

Provenance: Eskenazi, London, no. NP5.

Lot 590. An imperial yellow-glazed saucer dish, Zhengde six-character mark in underglaze blue within a double circle and of the period (1506-1521); 6 7/8 in. (17.5 cm.) diam. Estimate USD 20,000 - USD 30,000. Price realised USD 39,400. © Christie's Image Ltd 2008.

With rounded sides rising from a tapered foot to the slightly everted rim, covered inside and out with a glaze of rich egg yolk-yellow color, Japanese wood box.

Provenance: Lady William Clayton; Christie's, London, 16 December 1996, lot 118.

Lot 580. A rare imperial yellow-glazed anhua-decorated saucer dish, Jiajing six-character mark in underglaze blue within a double circle and of the period (1522-1566); 5 7/8 in. (15 cm.) diam. Estimate USD 3,000 - USD 4,000. Price realised USD 4,375. © Christie's Image Ltd 2008.

With shallow rounded sides rising to an everted rim, the interior lightly incised with a medallion of flowering stems of lotus, camellia, peony and chrysanthemum, the first two within a waisted border formed by two slender, leafy stems, with a band of composite foliate meander on the exterior, all under a glaze of deep egg yolk-yellow color.

Provenance: Trocadero, Washington D.C., September 1983.

Note: It is rare to see anhua decoration on a yellow-glazed dish from this period, as generally they tend to be undecorated. For two yellow-glazed dishes incised with dragons, see one illustrated in The Complete Collection of Treasures of the Palace Museum - 37 - Monochrome Porcelain, Hong Kong, 1999, p. 50, pl. 45, and the other in the Percival David Foundation included in the illustrated Catalogue of Ming and Qing Monochrome Wares, London, 1989, no. B 502. See, also, the Jiajing turquoise-glazed dish incised with similar decoration from the Saint Louis Art Museum sold in these rooms, 30 March 2005, lot 345. 

Christie's. Fine Chinese Ceramics And Works Of Art, New York, 19 March 2008.