C. Flippo Hicks (1929-2015) was a world traveler as well as an avid collector of antiques, including nautical paintings and Chinese porcelain. Raised in Virginia, he lived there his entire life. He was a naval reservist, a lawyer, he ran for Attorney General, argued before the Supreme Court and was President of the Virginia State Bar. As a senior lobbyist for the Virginia Association of Counties, he was involved in such major legislation as integration, annexation, school funding and public kindergarten.
A similar Qianlong-marked bowl of comparable size was sold at Christie's Hong Kong, 1 June 2011, lot 3709.