Lot 604. A coral-ground famille-rose 'peony' bowl, Daoguang seal mark and period (1821-1850). Diameter 4 1/4  in., 11 cm. Estimate 15,000 — 25,000 USD. Lot sold 25,000 USD. © Sotheby's

the deep rounded sides resting on a short foot, the exterior vibrantly enameled with three cartouches each enclosing a pink peony against a yellow ground, framed by stylized scrolling leafy vines and smaller blue peony blossoms, all reserved on a deep coral ground, the interior and recessed base glazed white, the latter with a six-character seal mark in underglaze blue.

Provenance: C. C. Lai Antiques, Toronto, 1960s-1980s, and thence by descent.

Note: Designs of flowers within cartouches like the present example first appeared on Kangxi period falangcai wares. See a bowl of this type sold in our Olympia rooms, 7th April 2004, lot 308. A pair sold in our Hong Kong rooms, 8th October 2014, lot 3636. Another sold at Christie's New York, 22nd March 2018, lot 790, and a further pair in their London rooms, 13th May 2014, lot 305. 

Sotheby's. Important Chinese Art, New York, 11 September 2019