A Rare Famille-Verte 'Bird' Bowl Mark and Period of Kangxi

elegantly potted with shallow rounded sides rising from a recessed base protruding on the interior, finely painted around the exterior with a green and pale yellow, possibly a laughing thrush bird with a long tail perched on a pendant loquat branch in an asymmetrical composition covering most of the sides, the brown branch bearing orange-red fruits and bright green leaves, extending to the interior with further fruits and leaves, the concave base inscribed in underglaze blue with a six-character reign mark in regular script within double circles

Estate of Doris McCordick (1912-1977), St. Catherines, Ontario, received as a gift from her brother-in-law Paul Grigaut (1905-1969), the chief curator of the Detroit Institute of Arts from 1955 to 1963.
Thence by descent within the family.
Acquired in Toronto.

The bowl is in overall good condition, except for some minor fritting with minute losses to the mouthrim, especially two larger areas of glaze flakes (approx. 0.5 and 0.6 cm) probably happened during the first firing. They have been cleverly incorporated into the design and concealed under the green enamels. The unglazed foot also has some shallow flakes. There are some occasional minor iron spots, but the enamels are generally well preserved.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

A closely related bowl is illustrated in Michel Beurdeley, La Ceramique Chinoise, Fribourg, 1974, pl. 80; and a further pair is included in Sekai tōji zenshū, vol. 12, Tokyo, 1956, pl. 37. Compare also a bowl of similar form but painted with a different type of bird perching on a peach branch, formerly in the Meiyintang collection, sold in these rooms, 7th April 2011, lot 3. This design of berried branches was also combined with hovering butterflies instead of birds; see a pair of bowls sold in these rooms, 23rd May 1978, lot 158; and a dish, with an apocryphal Chenghua reign mark, in the Shanghai Museum, Shanghai, published in Kangxi Porcelain Wares, Shanghai, 1998, pl. 100.

The design of the present bowl has been inspired by early-Ming blue and white designs, which in turn were influenced by the popular bird and flower paintings of the Song dynasty (960-1279). See a large blue and white dish depicting a single bird on a lychee branch, attributed to the Yongle period, illustrated in Regina Krahl, Chinese Ceramics from the Meiyintang Collection, vol. 4, pt. II, London, 2010, pl. 1639; and a Chenghua stembowl decorated with birds amongst fruiting sprays, sold at Christie's Hong Kong, 1st December 2009, lot 1875.