A FINE MOULDED LONGQUAN CELADON 'LOTUS' BOWL

Bowls of this type were made during the Song and Yuan dynasties, and six are illustrated by R. Krahl, Chinese Ceramics from the Meiyingtang Collection vol. 1, London, 1994, pp. 290-1, nos. 539-44. The present bowl appears to be most similar to nos. 539 and 540, which the author dates Southern Song dynasty, in its rounded shape and the broad, rather than narrow carved lotus petals. No. 539 is larger (20.8 cm. diam.) and no. 540 is smaller (13 cm. diam.) than the present bowl. The author describes these two bowls and others of Southern Song date as being more "carefully potted, carved, glazed and fired", than bowls of this type of later, Yuan date, such as nos. 543 and 544.