A 'LONGQUAN' CELADON 'EIGHT TRIGRAMS' TRIPOD CENSER LATE YUAN / EARLY MING DYNASTY

robustly potted and raised on three mask-and-paw feet, the shallow rounded sides carved with the 'Eight Trigrams', between bands of applied bosses encircling the incurved rim and base, covered with a lustrous sea-green glaze falling short of the center of the interior and the raised beveled disc on the base, both burnt orange in the firing, with fitted wood cover and Japanese wood box

There are two chips and a frit to the inner rim, a small glaze frit to the outer rim, and there is wear to the surface.
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.

Shallow sided, tripod bowls, most likely used to perfume the home, were popular luxury objects in the late Yuan, early Ming dynasty. Based on metal prototypes, the most famous ceramic examples were produced at the Longquan kilns in Zhejiang province in a shallow form such as the present example  and of a taller cylindrical form. Similar examples of the present form are found in several notable museums and private collections.  A similar bowl in the British Museum, London is illustrated in Jessica Harrison-Hall, Ming Ceramics in the British Museum, London, 2001, no. 16:85.  Another example is illustrated in Bo Gyllensvard, Chinese Ceramics in the Carl Kempe Collection, Stockholm, 1964, p. 65, no. 157. A recent example on the market includes a very similar bowl with the ba gua but bearing florets rather than bosses sold in these rooms 20th March 2012, lot 40.