A PINK-GLAZED 'CHRYSANTHEMUM' DISH QIANLONG MARK AND PERIOD

the sides finely moulded with forty-four fluted petals radiating from a slightly recessed flat centre to form a foliate rim, supported on a straight foot of conforming shape, covered overall in a rich pink glaze of crushed raspberry tone, the base left white with a six-character Qianlong mark within a double circle

John Sparks Ltd., London (according to label).

The central well of the dish has a circa 1.5cm scratch, other minor scratchings (circa 1cm) and extensive glaze chips measuring circa 0.2 x 0.1cm. There is minor glaze loss particularly to the ribs between the radiating petals close to the well (ranging from circa 0.2cm to 2cm) and the foliate rim. The glaze is slightly mottled particularly to the exterior. There are five burst glaze bubbles and a very subdued russet crackle (1cm) to the right side of base, and very minor hairline scratches measuring circa 1cm at the side of the footring.
"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 dish from the Goldschlager collection, included in the Min Chiu Society Exhibition of Monochrome Ceramics of Ming and Ch'ing Dynasties, Hong Kong Museum of Art, Hong Kong, 1977, cat. no. 19A, was sold in our New York rooms, 24^th March 1998, lot 658; another from the H.M. Knight collection was sold in our Hong Kong rooms, 29^th November 1979, lot 337; and a third dish from the collections of K.W. Woollcombe-Boyce and E.T. Hall, was sold at Christie's London, 4^th June 1973, lot 214, and again in our Hong Kong rooms, 2^nd May 2000, lot 555.

For a Yongzheng prototype, see a dish sold in our Hong Kong rooms, 15^th May 1990, lot 68. The Qianlong dishes closely follow the Yongzheng examples with the exception of the tips of the petals which are slightly more rounded and the base left white in the later dishes.

Qianlong dishes of this type are known in various coloured glazes; see two examples, one of coral glaze and the other of turquoise glaze, illustrated in John Ayers, The Baur Collection, Geneva, vol. III, Geneva, 1972, pls A499 and A450 respectively; a celadon-glazed example included in the Oriental Ceramic Society exhibition Iron in the Fire, Ashmolean Museum, Oxford, 1988, cat. no. 83; a white glaze dish included in the exhibition The Wonders of the Potter's Palette, Hong Kong Museum of Art, Hong Kong, 1983, cat. no. 83; and a lemon-yellow example published in Regina Krahl, Chinese Ceramics from the Meiyintang Collection, vol. 4, London, 2010, pl. 1832.