Lot 4. A fine and rare celadon-glazed bowl, Seal mark and period of Qianlong (1736-1795); 15.9 cm, 6 ¼ in. Estimate: 300,000 - 400,000 HKD. Lot sold 1,890,000 HKD. Courtesy Sotheby's.

elegantly potted with deep rounded sides rising from a straight foot to a lightly barbed rim, moulded to the exterior with a band of petal lappets radiating from the foot, applied overall with an attractive celadon glaze of sea-green tone, the base left white and inscribed with a six-character seal mark in underglaze blue.

Note: Another rare Qianlong celadon bowl with this high quality petal decoration, first moulded and then carved, was sold in our London rooms, 11th June 1974, lot 77. Relief petals around the base may be found on peachbloom-glazed wares of the Kangxi period. For example, see a vase from the Qing court collection illustrated in The Complete Collection of Treasures of the Palace Museum. Monochrome Porcelain, Hong Kong, 1999, pl. 18. See also the relief petals on a Yongzheng blue and white vase sold in these rooms, 8th October 2013, lot 3036.