Both，23.4 cm.（9 1/4 in.）wide

This rare pair of purple ground narcissus bowls conforms precisely to one of the prescribed patterns of the six different patterns of narcissus bowls originally commissioned by the Empress Dowager Cixi，namely the design associated with Winter，of poppies and hydrangeas in polychrome enamel on an opaque purple ground.
The Dowager Empress was purportedly very fond of purple as well as gold. The current narcissus bowls incorporate both colours with the dense purple ground，but also with the gold in the gilt rims. Interestingly，a very heavy amount of gold was required in the formula in order to make this particular colour purple ground，known as purple of Cassius. This may explain why so few extant examples of this winter pattern on a purple ground are known. The group is discussed in detail by Ronald W. Longsdorf，'Dayazhai Ware：Porcelains of the Empress Dowager，in Selected articles from Orientations 1982 - 1988，pp. 285-296 where he mentions the rarity of the Winter design.
The original sketch of the design from which the various ceramic forms were commissioned is illustrated in Guo Xingkuan and Wang Guangyao，Guanyang Yuci：Gugong bowuyuan cang Qingdai zhici guanyang yu Yuyao，Beijing，2007，pp. 198-199.
Compare with a single narcissus bowl of identical design，sold at China Guardian，Beijing，11 November 2011，lot 3439.

Property from a Private North American Collection

Price estimate:
HKD: 120,000 - 180,000
USD: 15,600 - 23,300

Auction Result:
HKD: --