Lot 1259. A Longquan celadon barrel-form garden seat, Ming dynasty, 15th century; 18 1/8 in. (46 cm.) high. Estimate USD 5,000 - USD 7,000. Price realised USD 60,000. © Christie's Images Ltd 2013

The sides are well carved in relief with four panels depicting lotus, peony, hibiscus and chrysanthemum blossoms within strap borders and below a row of key fret. The panels are set between rows of raised nail-head bosses and bands of carved clouds. The top of the seat is carved with a diaper pattern that imitates a woven rattan seat. The seat is covered overall with a glaze of olive-green tone.

Provenance: Christie's New York, 26 March 2003, lot 234.

Note: A similar Longquan celadon barrel-form garden seat with four panels of flowers is illustrated by A. du Boulay in Christie's Pictorial History of Chinese Ceramics, Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey, 1984, p. 100, no. 2.