AN UNUSUAL LONGQUAN CELADON BOWL MING DYNASTY, YONGLE PERIOD

well potted with deep rounded sides springing from a narrow foot, the interior carved to the centre with a central stylised floret, encircled by a zigzag meander, within a band of interlinking foliate scrolls, all below a floral band at the rim, the exterior with a band of slender upright lotus petals rising from a band of circles above the foot, all beneath a keyfret at the rim, covered overall in a rich celadon-green glaze pooling to a darker colour in the recesses of the carving and extending to the foot and base except for an unglazed ring burnt russet in the firing within the footrim, the glazed based rising gently to a central point

There is some minor expected surface wear to the interior. There is a natural crackle to the glaze throughout. There is a burst air bubble/glaze gap at the keyfret of approx 0.2 by 0.2cm. Otherwise the bowl is generally in good condition overall.
"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 similar carved Longquan celadon bowl from the T.Y. Chao collection was sold in these rooms, 19th May 1987, lot 216; another in the Idemitsu Museum of Arts, Tokyo, is illustrated in Chinese Ceramics in the Idemitsu Collection, Tokyo, 1987, pl.480; and a third example from the Karen Dean Bunting Trust was sold at Christie's London, 5/6th July 1983, lot 259.

Blue-and-white bowls of this form and decoration are known with and without Xuande reign marks; compare two such bowls from the Brankston collection in the British Museum, London, published in Oriental Ceramics. The World's Great Collections, vol. 5, Tokyo, 1981, pls. 166 and 167.