Lot 3969. A pair of celadon-glazed incised-decorated bowls, Kangxi six-character marks within double-circles and of the period (1662-1722); 6 in. (15.3 cm.) diam. Estimate 800,000 - HKD 1,200,000. Price realised HKD 980,000. © Christie's Images Ltd 2012.  

The bowls are each potted with wide sides rising to a gently everted rim. They are incised to the exterior with six highly stylised floral blooms borne on leafy stems, the interiors are undecorated. Each is covered overall in an even pale celadon glaze, box.

Note: Celadon bowls of this type, in imitation of Longquan wares, have prototypes as early as the Yongle period (1402-1424). A Longquan-type celadon bowl in the Palace Museum, Beijing, dated to the Yongle period, has incised floral decorations very similar to the current pair of bowls, and is illustrated in Monochrome Porcelain, The Complete Collection of Treasures of the Palace Museum, Hong Kong, 1999, p.187, no. 169.