Lot 74
74
A RARE MING BLUE AND WHITE SAUCER DISH

Details
A RARE MING BLUE AND WHITE SAUCER DISH
ZHENGDE SIX-CHARACTER MARK IN UNDERGLAZE BLUE WITHIN A DOUBLE CIRCLE AND OF THE PERIOD

With rounded sides springing from a tapering foot to a slightly everted rim, the interior well painted in the center in deep, rich tones of underglaze blue with a gardenia branch bearing two blossoms, surrounded by sprigs of lotus, pomegranate, persimmon and grapevine in the well and the exterior painted with a frieze of hibiscus meander, all within double blue line borders and reserved against the ivory-toned ground
10 3/8in. (26.3cm.) diam., box
Literature
The Tsui Museum of Art, Hong Kong, 1991, no. 75
Exhibited
Singapore, The Empress Place Museum, Gems of Chinese Art, 1992, no. 82

Lot Essay

Zhengde examples of this kind of dish in blue and white appear to be quite rare. A Zhengde example, together with others, some in blue and white, and some with a yellow enamel ground, with Chenghua, Hongzhi and Xuande marks, are illustrated by Sir Harry Gardner in Oriental Blue and White, London, 1954, pl. 42d. The author points out that the development of these dishes, from Xuande to Zhengde may be seen in the style of painting where the method of using bold splashes of color was replaced by one in which outlines were drawn and then filled with wash