A Large Blue and White Bowl Ming Dynasty, Jiajing period

of deep U-shape rising from a slightly tapered foot, painted in bold tones of underglaze blue, the exterior featuring scrolling lotus below 'Precious Emblems', above an overlapping lappet border, the interior with a central medallion of scrolling lotus and pods with two butterflies, apocryphal Chenghua mark to the base

Sotheby's New York, 20th November 1973, lot 311.
Thereafter with the present owners.

The fritted rim with losses to the glaze on the rim surface. A hairline crack from the rim, 4 inches long on the interior, 3 1/4 inches long on the exterior. Scattered pinholes and iron spots throughout. The interior with minor glaze pulling and one 1/8 inch wide burst air bubble. Above the foot, a 1 1/2 inch long firing flaw. Where the foot and the bottom of the bowl meets exhibits some fritting.
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.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING CONDITION OF A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE PRINTED IN THE CATALOGUE.

No other Jiajing bowl with this design appears to have been published, although a censer with Jiajing reign mark and of the period, decorated with Buddhist emblems amongst scrolling lingzhi fungus and lotus flowers, in the National Palace Museum, Taipei, is included in Porcelain of the National Palace Museum. Blue-and-White Ware of the Ming Dynasty, Hong Kong, 1963, pl. 19. Compare also a bowl with Jiajing reign mark and of the period, similarly painted but with lingzhi fungus scroll and keyfret bordering the rim, sold in our Hong Kong rooms, 19th May 1982, lot 159.

The apocryphal mark of Chenghua discloses the inspiration for the decoration of the present bowl, while the Chenghua design was in turn a development of an original Xuande composition. For a Xuande prototype, see a bowl in the Palace Museum, Beijing, illustrated in Blue and White Porcelain with Underglaze Red (I). The Complete Treasures of the Palace Museum, Shanghai, 2000, pl. 147. See also a Chenghua stembowl with related design, sold at Christie's New York, 23rd March 1995, lot 99.