A LONGQUAN CELADON MOULDED 'LOTUS' DISH EARLY MING DYNASTY |

the rounded sides rising from a short foot, moulded to the centre of the interior with a single stylised lotus spray, surrounded by a band of lotus blooms on the well beneath a band of classic floral scroll at the rim, repeated on the exterior above a band of key-fret around the foot, covered overall with an olive-green glaze with the exception of an unglazed ring on the base burnt orange in the firing

Collection of John R. Menke (1919-2009), Missouri and New York.
Sotheby's New York, 18th/19th March 2014, lot 220.

In overall good condition. There are several sesame-sized flaws in the glaze to the interior of the dish. There is also typical slight wear to the footring as expected
"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."

During the early Ming period, the Longquan kilns appear to have worked closely with the imperial kilns at Jingdezhen, thus making wares of similar form and decoration, perhaps under imperial instruction. Stylised lotus blooms such as those seen on the present dish can be found on contemporary blue and white porcelain wares, such as a closely related Xuande bowl in the collection of the National Palace Museum, Taipei, illustrated in A Panorama of Ceramics in the Collection of the National Palace Museum: Hsüan-te Ware I, Taipei, 2000, pl. 77. A Longquan dish of similar size and design in the National Palace Museum, Taipei, is illustrated in Green – Longquan Celadon of the Ming Dynasty, Taipei, 2009, cat. no. 45; and another in the Palace Museum, Beijing, was included in the exhibition Longquan of the World. Longquan Celadon and Globalization, vol. II: State Vessels, Beijing, 2019, cat. no. 165. A slightly smaller dish but with almost identical decoration was sold at Christie's Hong Kong, 27th November 2013, lot 3294.