A RARE PAIR OF YELLOW CUPS MARKS AND PERIOD OF JIAJING

each of deep shape, with widely flaring rim and supported on a low foot, covered overall with a deep yellow glaze including the base, inscribed in underglaze blue with a six-character reign mark, wood stands

Chinese Ceramics from the Meiyintang Collection, The British Museum, London, 1994.
Evolution to Perfection. Chinese Ceramics from the Meiyintang Collection/Evolution vers la perfection. Céramiques de Chine de la Collection Meiyintang, Sporting d'Hiver, Monte Carlo, 1996, cat. no. 121.

Regina Krahl, Chinese Ceramics from the Meiyintang Collection, London, 1994-2010, vol. 2, no. 698.

One of the bowls is in very good condition with only a few minor scratches to the glaze. The other bowl has a 6 cm hairline crack from the rim. The colours are very well matched.
"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 distinctive deep, flared shape represents an innovation of the Jiajing period and was produced almost only in this reign, both in yellow and in dark blue. A similar pair of cups from the Edward T. Chow and T.Y. Chao collections, was sold in these rooms 19th May 1981, lot 452 and 18th November 1986, lot 68. A similar single cup from the Sir Percival David Collection now in the British Museum, London, is published in the Illustrated Catalogue of Ming and Qing Monochrome Wares in the Percival David Foundation of Chinese Art, London, 1989, no. A 595; one from the collection of Mrs. B.Z. Seligman and Sir Alfred Aykroyd, included in the Oriental Ceramic Society exhibition Monochrome Porcelain of the Ming and Manchu Dynasties, London, 1948, cat. no. 60, was sold in our London rooms 15th May 1966, lot 36, and at Christie's London, 7th June 2004, lot 281; another from the Hall Family collection, included in the Oriental Ceramic Society exhibition Iron in the Fire, Ashmolean Museum, Oxford, 1988, cat. no. 60, was sold in our London rooms 26th July 1966, lot 68 and in these rooms 2nd May 2000, lot 506, and is illustrated in Sotheby's. Thirty Years in Hong Kong, Hong Kong, 2003, no. 124.