A YELLOW-GLAZED DISH ZHENGDE MARK AND PERIOD |

with shallow rounded sides rising from a short tapered foot to a slightly everted rim, applied overall with a semi-translucent yellow glaze of rich egg-yolk tone, save for the base left white with a six-character mark in underglaze blue within a double ring 

John Sparks Ltd., London.
Collection of Sidney T. Cook (1910-1964), and thence by descent. 

In overall good condition with only light wear to the glaze at the interior (typical of the period and type) and fine craquelure to an area of the foot.
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 deep and rich yellow covering this dish is characteristic of imperial yellow wares of the Zhengde reign, achieved through a slight increase in the amount of iron oxide to the iron-yellow enamel. Zhengde mark and period dishes of this form and glaze are held in important museum and private collections worldwide; see for example one in the Palace Museum, Beijing, illustrated in The Complete Collection of Treasures of the Palace Museum. Monochrome Porcelain, Hong Kong, 1999, pl. 41; another from the Sir Percival David Collection and now in the British Museum, London, published in Margaret Medley, Illustrated Catalogue of Ming and Ch’ing Monochrome in the Percival David Foundation of Chinese Art, London, 1973, pl. 597; and a third from the Koger collection, included in John Ayers, Chinese Ceramics. The Koger Collection, London, 1985, pl. 69.