15 cm. (5 7/8 in.) diam.

The bowl of deep rounded sides is supported on a short circular foot and is decorated to the exterior with a six stylised lotus flowerheads in different colours, all beautifully decorated in doucai palette outlined in underglaze blue and interspersed evenly amidst scrolling leaves, the interior with a cetralised floral medallion within two underglaze blue borders, the base with a six-character kaishu reign mark within double circles in underglaze blue.The doucai palette first appeared as a prototype during the Xuande reign and became more prominent during the Chenghua period, where underglaze blue and used to outline drawing filled in with overglaze coloured enamels. The term doucai refers to the interaction between the clashing colours, which literally translates as ‘contending colours”. Firing doucai porcelain was an excruciatingly difficult and supremely expensive decorative technique.The Yongzheng emperor was very fascinated with the delicate tones of the doucai pallete, and is known to personally influence the artistic direction of the imperial kiln production, achieving together with the renowned kiln supervisor Tang Ying, an unsurpassed standard of quality, aesthetic subtlety and refinement by merging his admiration both of classic styles of the past and of contemporary innovation, see Harmony and Integrity: The Yongzheng Emperor and His Times, Taipei, 2009, p.159; and E. S. Rawski and J. Rawson, China: The Three Emperors 1662 - 1795, London, 2005, p.245.

Price estimate:
HKD: 1,200,000 - 1,500,000
USD: 153,000 - 191,300

Auction Result:
HKD: --