A LARGE 'LONGQUAN' CELADON CARVED 'PEONY' BOWL MING DYNASTY, 15TH CENTURY

the elegantly potted steeply rounded sides vigorously carved on the exterior with a meander of flowering peony, the blooms encompassed by stems with broad curling leaves, reserved on a delicately combed ground, beneath a key-fret border encircling the rim, the interior finely carved with a wave pattern highlighted by further combed detail and an impressed central floral medallion, applied overall with a bright sea-green glaze, Japanese wood box

The rim is slightly warped. There are several scattered overpainted burst glaze bubbles and glaze gaps. There are further burst bubbles and small glaze gaps. The surface with expected wear.
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.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING CONDITION OF A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE PRINTED IN THE CATALOGUE.

The present bowl is a confident artistic expression from the finest of the skilled workers at one of the great periods of Longquan kiln production. A nearly identical bowl to the present, dated to the early Ming dynasty, in the National Palace Museum is illustrated in Green-Longquan Celadon of the Ming Dynasty, Taipei, 2009, pp. 68-69, no. 27. A bowl with the same carved interior wave pattern from the Topkapi Saray Museum is illustrated in Regina Krahl Chinese Ceramics in the Topkapi Saray Museum Istanbul, vol. 1, London, 1986, p. 362, no. 498a. Other examples of bowls with carved floral scroll exterior and wave pattern interiors in the Topkapi Saray Museum are illustrated, ibid, nos. 497-499. Another closely related bowl to the present example is illustrated in John Alexander Pope, Chinese Porcelains from the Ardebil Shrine, London, 1981, pl. 127 where the author notes the particularly fine 'intrinsic qualities' (ibid., p. 156) of the interesting, compelling combination of the waves and flowers.