A rare early cloisonne enameled dish Mark and Period of Jingtai

the solidly cast bronze body enameled with a large cental lotus flower head with radiating petals encircled by six smaller lotus flowers each borne on a leafy scroll, bound within a gold border, the cavetto further decorated with multi-coloured lotus flowers borne on a continous foliate scroll, the decoration repeated on the exterior, the petals picked-out in red, yellow, blue and white and reserved on a turquoise ground, the gilt base inscribed horizontally with a six-character reign mark

Christie's New York, 3rd June 1988, lot 44.
Christie's London, 15th November 2000, lot 98.
Christie's London, 7th November 2006, lot 93.

The overall condition is very good with only a light crackling to the enameling and minor loss around the foot. The gilt on the cloisons is in very good condition and has retained its gilding.
"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."

This classic design, with the lotus medallion at the center, comprised of a lotus pod with articulated seeds and radiating petals, is found on several examples dating to the Xuande period. See a disc with a Xuande mark, illustrated in Helmut Brinker and Albert Lutz, Chinese Cloisonne: The Pierre Uldry Collection, The Asia Society Galleries, New York, 1989, pl. 1, along with several boxes featuring the same motif, ibid, pls. 2-4. A striking aspect of the present dish is the double-row of twelve radiating petals surrounding the pod. Two comparable examples also with incised Jingtai six-character marks have been sold at auction, the first in our London rooms, 14th July 1981, lot 12; the second at Christie's London, 15th May 2007, lot 119. A slightly larger dish, diameter 26 cm, was sold in our London rooms, 29th October 1982, lot 14. See also a dish attributed to the first half of the 15th century, illustrated in Brinker and Lutz, ibid, pl. 14, with very similar decoration and a double-vajra incised to the gilded underside.