A RARE DOUCAI 'DUCK AND LOTUS' BOWL SEAL MARK AND PERIOD OF DAOGUANG |

potted with upright sides rising from a flat slightly recessed base to a gently everted rim, the exterior delicately detailed with a continuous scene of mandarin ducks swimming amidst large lotus blooms, under an underglaze-blue band of sinuous five-clawed dragons chasing flaming pearls, the interior painted with a central medallion of a pair of ducks in a lotus pond, with a band of lança characters at the rim, the base inscribed with a six-character seal mark

John Sparks Ltd, London (label).
Sotheby's London, 10th May 2017, lot 223 (one of a pair).
A European private collection.

Good condition.
"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."

A closely related doucai bowl, also created as a 'marriage bowl', included in the exhibition Imperial Porcelain of Late Qing from the Kwan Collection, Art Gallery, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, 1983, cat. no. 31, was sold at Christie's Singapore, 30th March 1997, lot 388; another in the National Palace Museum, Taipei, was included in the Museum’s Special Exhibition of Ch'eng-hua Porcelain, Taipei, 1976, cat. no. 87, alongside Qianlong and Jiaqing examples, cat. nos 84 and 86.