Lot 1519. A rare massive 'Longquan' celadon carved charger, Ming dynasty, 14th century; 61.7cm., 24 1/4 in. Estimate 600,000 — 800,000 HKD. Lot sold 2,887,500 HKD. Courtesy Sotheby's.

of unusually large size, the well crisply moulded with sixteen barbed panels rounding to a sharply everted and lipped rim of conforming shape, deftly carved on the interior with a flower head encircled by a scrolling lotus meander, surrounded by the bajixiang at the sides, each of the emblems repeated and resting on a lotus base, below a foliate scroll at the rim, the underside with sixteen flower sprays below a further foliate scroll, covered overall in a sea-green glaze except for an unglazed ring on the base burnt russet in the firing.

Note:The present piece is unusual for its spectacularly large size.  The design and composition on the present charger is well rendered, with bold and freely carved strokes.   

The present charger belongs to a group of high quality Longquan celadon wares produced in the late 14th century, and which are decorated with carved designs that may be compared with underglaze-blue decoration of the period.  During the early Ming dynasty, the Longquan kilns seem to have worked in close cooperation with the imperial porcelain kilns at Jingdezhen; making wares of similar form, decoration and quality, perhaps under imperial construction.   

Compare a barbed charger of similar large size, but undecorated, illustrated in Chinese Ceramics from the Idemitsu Collection, Tokyo, 1987, pl. 595; and another, with flower scroll decoration, in Regina Krahl, Chinese Ceramics in the Topkapi Saray Museum, Istanbul, vol.1, 1986, cat.no. 245.  See also an undecorated barbed charger of slightly smaller size with similar glaze sold in these rooms, 31st October 2004, lot 214; and another with similar decoration and size as the present piece, sold at Christie's New York, 20th September 2005, lot 244.  

Sotheby's. Fine Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art, Hong Kong, 09 Oct 2007