QIANLONG SIX-CHARACTER SEAL MARKS IN UNDERGLAZE BLUE AND OF THE PERIOD (1736-1795)

The bowl and cover are both painted with the scene of Jia Chang stamping his foot to summon his chickens, accompanied by a lengthy poetic inscription, paying tribute to art works with this subject matter from earlier periods and in particular to the fabled Chenghua-period doucai chicken cups.

This decorative motif is more commonly seen on cups, such as a Qianlong famille rose cup in the British Museum Collection, illustrated by Rosemary Scott in, Illustrated Catalogue of Qing Enamelled Ware in the Percival David Foundation of Chinese Art. London, 1991, pp 53-54, pl.no.A827.