A FINE COPPER-RED 'CHRYSANTHEMUM AND PEONY' BOWL MING DYNASTY, HONGWU PERIOD

finely potted with deep rounded sides rising from a short straight foot to an everted mouthrim, the exterior painted in subtle pinkish-red tones with a leafy peony scroll, the blooms seen alternating from the front and side, all between a classic scroll band and key-fret border encircling the rim and footrim respectively, the interior centred with a medallion enclosing a large peony bloom accompanied by a dainty bud, surrounded by a bold leafy chrysanthemum scroll, all below a key-fret band encircling the inner mouthrim, the base glazed

An old Japanese collection.

The overall condition is very good with only some typical stained burst air bubbles. The actual colour is slightly more brownish.
"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."

Copper-red decorated vessels of the Hongwu period are amongst the rarest examples of early Ming dynasty porcelain. With their restraint and well-organised designs, they were clearly destined for use at court rather than for export, like so many wares of the previous Yuan dynasty. According to Liu Xinyuan in ‘A Study of Early Ming and Yongle Imperial Porcelain Excavated at Zhushan, Jingdezhen’, Imperial Hongwu and Yongle Porcelain Excavated at Jingdezhen, Taipei, 1996, p. 52, underglaze-red porcelain was produced systematically on a considerable scale. However, very few wares were successfully fired due to the difficulty in controlling the copper-red pigment.

Bowls of this type are more commonly known with a key-fret border encircling the exterior of the rim; a bowl from the Qing Court collection and still in Beijing is illustrated in The Complete Collection of Treasures of the Palace Museum. Blue and White Porcelain with Underglaze Red (I), Shanghai, 2000, pl. 222; one in the Shandong Provincial Museum is included in Zhongguo wenwu jinghua daquan. Taoci juan, Hong Kong, 1993, pl. 667; another is published in the Illustrated Catalogue of Tokyo National Museum. Chinese Ceramics II, Tokyo, 1990, cat. no. 32; and a bowl from the Idemitsu Museum of Arts, Tokyo, was included in The 15th Anniversary Catalogue, Tokyo, 1991, pl. 760. A blue and white counterpart, excavated at Dongmentou, Zhushan, was included in the exhibition Imperial Hongwu and Yongle Porcelain Excavated at Jingdezhen, Chang Foundation, Taipei, 1996, cat. no. 14.

Compare also a related bowl, but the interior decorated with four detached branches of chrysanthemum, camellia, peony and pomegranate flowers around a peony medallion, illustrated in Mayuyama. Seventy Years, vol. 1, Tokyo, 1976, pl. 730; another sold in these rooms, 24th November 1981, lot 132; and a bowl, but with a chrysanthemum spray in the centre, from the collection of Lord Trevelyan, published in J.M. Addis, ‘A Group of Underglaze Red’, Transactions of the Oriental Ceramic Society, vol. 31, 1957-59, pl. 1a.

Few copper-red decorated Hongwu porcelains appear to have been excavated from the imperial kiln site at Jingdezhen, however the peony and chrysanthemum scrolls, classic scroll and key-fret border are found on underglaze-red bowls of similar form but larger size excavated from the Zhushan site and included in the exhibition Imperial Hongwu and Yongle Porcelain Excavated at Jingdezhen, op.cit., cat. nos. 7-10.