A FINE MING-STYLE BLUE AND WHITE 'LOTUS' DICE BOWL MARK AND PERIOD OF YONGZHENG

stoutly potted with low rounded sides supported on a slightly tapered foot, the thick walls painted in the fifteenth-century style with a broad lotus scroll issuing six large blossoms wreathed by a dense curling foliage, between a border of crested waves at the rim and a band of 'S'-shaped scrolls encircling the foot, all divided by single or double lines, the interior and the base left white, the footring unglazed, inscribed in underglaze blue with a six-character reign mark written in a horizontal line within a double rectangular panel below the rim, wood stand

Sotheby’s London, 16^th November 1971, lot 100.
Christie’s Tokyo, 15^th February 1981, lot 306.
Sotheby’s Hong Kong, 19^th May 1982, lot 211.

The dice bowl is in overall good condition. There are some light scratches on the interior and a few pale iron spots, some minor firing impurities and pinholes on the rim and base.
"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 bowl from the Riesco collection was sold several times in our rooms, in London, 23^rd June 1970, lot 113, in New York, 13^th March 1975, lot 377, and again in London, 30^th March 1978, lot 207; another was sold in our London rooms, 13^th March 1973, lot 265, and again in these rooms, 16^th May 1977, lot 111; and a third example was sold at Christie’s Hong Kong, 8^th October 1990, lot 577, and again in these rooms, 7^th May 2002, lot 577.

Bowls of this type are also known decorated with a mixed flower scroll, such as one from the T.Y. Chao and T.T. Tsui collection, sold in these rooms, 19^th May 1987, lot 273, and again at Christie’s Hong Kong, 27^th May 2008, lot 1577. These mixed flower scroll bowls are also distinguished by the crashing waves which move in the opposite direction to those painted with lotus scrolls such as the present bowl, and a more ornate classic scroll at the foot.

These bowls were inspired by thickly potted ‘fruit’ bowls of the early 15^th century; see two Xuande mark and period examples in the National Palace Museum, the reign marks also similarly placed horizontally above the flowers, included in Minjin meihin zuroku, vol. 1, Tokyo, 1977, pls. 59 and 60.