A FINE PAIR OF AUBERGINE-GLAZED SAUCER DISHES MARKS AND PERIOD OF YONGZHENG

each delicately potted with a slightly recessed centre, the rounded flared sides resting on a short straight foot, finely incised on the exterior with the 'Eight Buddhist Emblems' tied with ribbons, between incised fillets around the rim and foot, covered overall with a deep aubergine glaze with a slight iridescence, the base reserved in white and inscribed with a six-character reign mark within a double ring in underglaze blue

Collection of J.F. Woodthorpe.
Collection of H.M. Knight.
Sotheby’s Hong Kong, 29th November 1979, lot 347.
Sotheby’s Hong Kong, 17th May 1988, lot 83.

Regina Krahl, Chinese Ceramics from the Meiyintang Collection, London, 1994-2010, vol. 2, no. 892.

Both saucers are in overall very good condition. The actual colours of the pair are slightly more purplish comparing to the catalogue illustration.
"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."

Although the aubergine glaze colour had been developed already in the Xuande period (AD 1426-35), it remained very rare until the Qing dynasty, when it became popular mainly for bowls and dishes. Dishes with similar engraved designs are illustrated in John Ayers, The Baur Collection Geneva: Chinese Ceramics, Geneva, 1968-74, vol. III, pls. A 476 and 477; another pair from Elphinstone collection is in the Sir Percival David Collection in the British Museum, London, see Margaret Medley, Illustrated Catalogue of Ming and Ch'ing Monochrome in the Percival David Foundation of Chinese Art, London, 1973, nos. B 585 and 586; and a single dish is illustrated in Qingdai danse you ciqi tezhan [Special exhibition of monochrome glazed porcelain of the Qing dynasty], National Palace Museum, Taipei, 1981, cat. no. 45.

A pair of similar dishes from the Goldschmidt collection, sold in these rooms 13th November 1990, lot 69, is illustrated in The Tsui Museum of Art. Chinese Ceramics IV: Qing Dynasty, Hong Kong, 1995, pl. 30; another pair from the J.M. Hu Family Collection was sold in our New York rooms 23rd September 1995, lot 428; and one from the collection of Dr. Per Hedenius, sold in our London rooms 9th December 1975, lot 160, was included in the exhibition Chinesische Keramik. Meisterwerke aus Privatsammlungen, Museum für Ostasiatische Kunst, Cologne, 1988, cat. no. 124.