Page 36 - Fine Imperial Porcelain at Sothebys Hong Kong April 3 2019

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A RARE INCISED AND ANHUA-DECORATED 明永樂 甜白釉暗花花卉紋蓮子盌
"SWEET-WHITE" LIANZI BOWL
MING DYNASTY, YONGLE PERIOD 來源：
費城 Henry Charles Lea（1825-1909年）收藏，或約
thinly and superbly potted with deep rounded sides 1900年得自寧波，此後由 Charles Matthew Lea（1853-
converging to a pointed base, supported on a narrow, gently 1927年）承繼，再傳予 Mary Mason Hudson，後入其
tapering foot, the central interior incised with a stylised
flower, encircled by a floral band and interlocking strapwork 承產收藏
motifs rendered in the anhua technique, all below a cash coin 紐約蘇富比2002年3月20日，編號181
diaper band around the rim, the exterior incised with long
lappets below a keyfret border, above an undulating chevron
band encircling the foot, covered overall in an opaque white
glaze
16.2 cm, 6⅜ in.
PROVENANCE
Collection of Henry Charles Lea (1825-1909), possibly
acquired in Ningbo, China, circa 1900, thence by descent to
Charles Matthew Lea (1853-1927) and later by descent to the
Estate of Mary Mason Hudson, Philadelphia.
Sotheby’s New York, 20th March 2002, lot 181.

HK$ 800,000-1,200,000
US$ 102,000-153,000

The present bowl belongs to a group of sweet white-glazed blue and white counterparts of such bowls only became
(tianbai) porcelain bowls favoured during the Yongle period. popular later during the Xuande period.
Its subtle combination of incised and anhua decoration on a Closely related white-glazed bowls rendered in this
beautifully potted lianzi shape manifested one of the most decoration include one from the Frederick M. Mayer
classic decorative repertoires in the early Ming dynasty.
collection, also formerly in the A.D. Brankston and
Anhua, ‘hidden decoration’, was practised almost exclusively Eumorfopoulos collections, sold at Christie’s London, 24th
at the beginning of the Ming dynasty, from the Hongwu to June 1974, lot 81; and another sold in our New York rooms,
the Xuande period, and only at Jingdezhen. 20th March 2002, lot 181. Compare also a white-glazed bowl
decorated in the same techniques, but with the interior and
Although blue and white bowls of this form and decoration exterior designs reversed, from the Qing court collection and
were also produced, including one in the British Museum, now preserved in the Palace Museum, Beijing, included in
London, illustrated in Soame Jenyns, Ming Pottery and
Porcelain, London, 1988, pl. 28B, the Yongle Emperor is the Museum’s exhibition, Imperial Porcelains from the Reigns
believed to have preferred monochrome white wares, and of Hongwu and Yongle in the Ming Dynasty, Beijing, 2015,
pl. 117.

34 SOTHEBY ’S FINE IMPERIAL PORCELAIN