YONGZHENG SIX-CHARACTER MARK IN UNDERGLAZE BLUE WITHIN A DOUBLE SQUARE AND OF THE PERIOD (1723-1735)

The decoration and glaze on this bowl appears to be inspired by Yuan dynasty shufu wares. The term shufu usually refers to a type of glaze which is slightly more opaque than that of a qingbai glaze and is silky in texture, rather than glassy. The term derives from the characters shu and fu executed in low relief under the glaze found on some wares with this glaze. It is believed that wares with this mark were intended for use by a Yuan dynasty government department, the Shumiyuan, which is equated with a Privy Council. A Yuan-dynasty shufu molded bowl from the Falk Collection that illustrates this glaze was sold at Christie's New York, 16 October 2001, lot 123.