A rare wucai bowl, Shunzhi six-character mark within double-circles and of the period (1644-1661)

Lot 1757. A rare wucai bowl, Shunzhi six-character mark within double-circles and of the period (1644-1661); 5¾ in. (14.3 cm.) diam. Estimate HKD 600,000 - HKD 800,000. Price Realized: HKD 727,500 © Christie's Image Ltd 2008.

The deep bowl with rounded sides and supported on a short slightly tapered foot, enamelled on the exterior with a lively scene of a galloping horse turning to face two mythical beasts, detailed in vivid enamels of green, yellow and iron-red, amidst flame scrolls and florettes, the base incised with the six-character reign mark in underglaze-blue within double-circles.

Provenance: Sir Percival and Lady David.

Literature: Soame Jenyns, 'The Wares of the Transitional Period Between the Ming and the Ch'ing, 1620-1683', Archives of the Chinese Art Society of America, IX, 1955, fig. 7C.

Exhibited: London, The Arts of the Ch'ing Dynasty, Oriental Ceramic Society, London, 1964, Catalogue, no. 161
Hong Kong, Chi'ing Polychrome Exhibition, Hong Kong Oriental Ceramic Society, Catalogue, 1977, no. 2
Hong Kong, Transitional Wares and their Forerunners, Hong Kong Oriental Ceramic Society, Catalogue, 1981, no. 171.

Note: Previously sold at Sotheby's London, 6 July 1976, lot 180; sold again at Christie's London, 13 December 1982, and at Sotheby's Hong Kong, 27 April 2003, lot 236.

The appearance of the reign mark of the first Qing dynasty emperor Shunzhi (1644-1661) is rarely seen on ceramics.

Christie's. Hong Kong. Important Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art. 27 May 2008