Lot 239 , A Chinese blue and white bowl, 16th/17th century, D. 20.3cm, hairline cracks

A Chinese blue and white bowl, 16th/17th century, painted with fruit, 'shou' and scrolling tendrils, the base with six character mark, 'Shen De Tang Bo Gu Zhi' (Made in the Antique style for the Hall of Cultivation of Virtue), D. 20.3cm, hairline cracks
Estimate £200-300


Compare a near indentical underglaze blue painted bowl but with a coral ground sold by Christie's, New York, The Collection of Evelyn Annenberg Hall: Fine Chinese, 29 March 2006, Lot 100, ascribed to the 16th/17th century.

The high foot and deep sides of this bowl are probably inspired by Jiajing-period imperial bowls. The mark, shen de tang bo gu zhi, translates to 'Made in the antique style for the Hall for the Cultivation of Virtue'. This hall mark appears on porcelains from the early Kangxi period and on imperial porcelains from the Daoguang period.
The Hall of Mental Cultivation is a building in the inner courtyard of the Forbidden City in Beijing, China. The Hall was first built in the Ming dynasty and reconstructed in the Qing dynasty. From the 18th century onward, since the reign of the Yongzheng Emperor, the Hall became the living quarters of the Qing dynasty emperors.


There is a 75mm long hairline crack extending downward from the rim which has some very tiny glaze losses around the area on the exterior and there is a vertical scratch on the interior which at first glance may appear to be a crack but is not, there is other minor scratching and scuffing to the interior consistent with age and use, on the exterior towards the base there is a tiny area of exposed burnt orange biscuit and other minor glaze imperfections, there is also a shallow splinter glaze chip to the outside of the bowl measuring 8mm x 6mm, there is also an engraved collector's mark to the left of the six character mark.


Descriptions provided in both printed and on-line catalogue formats do not include condition reports. The absence of a condition statement does not imply that the lot is in perfect condition or completely free from wear and tear, imperfections or the effects of aging. Interested bidders are strongly encouraged to request a condition report on any lots upon which they intend to bid, prior to placing a bid. All transactions are governed by Gorringes Conditions of Sale.

Sold for £320