RARE SIGNED LATE QING DOUCAI 3-PIECE PEDESTAL BOWL

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Our nicely enameled Chinese late Qing porcelain pedestal bowl is the last of four in this rare doucai palette that we've been fortunate enough to offer recently from the same collection. Stylistically related to ancient bronze dou-form vessels, such containers originally were meant for ritual food offerings made during important imperial sacrifices. Later they were used on Confucian, Buddhist and Daoist home altars to supplicate deities and ancestral spirits. This remarkably well preserved late 19th century example, consisting of footed bowl, knobbed cover and rare signed liner, may have been made for export to the West, w such items were used as warming dishes for soups.The exteriors of bowl and cover are rife with prized doucai-palette decoration, principally a classic lotus scroll, inspired by blue and white porcelains of the Kangxi Era (1662-1722). Diapers of cracked ice, prunus and bamboo rest above the field of twining lotuses. Below it is a multicolored band of stylized petals, then the high foot, with successive surrounds of bamboo clusters and floral meanders above a frothy band of rolling waves. Along with typically transparent doucai colors over an underglaze blue design, the lotus flowers and other main elements of the motif are delicately traced in gilt.A molded knob in the shape of a succulent lychee (lizi) fruit adorns the lid, while small applied pairs of animal masks are situated beneath the rim on opposite sides of the bowl. Whether the latter are purely decorative or once functioned as posts for wire bails is debatable.Despite their handsome appearance, bowls of this type were made to be utilitarian, thus are hard to find with all components as relatively unscathed as these, particularly the fragile liners. Even more unusual is to find one with a mark of its maker, such as the one on this liner's foot, reading "Made by Gong Tongxing at Jingzhen" (Jing Zhen Gong Tong Xing Zao). This type of "Jing Zhen" abbreviation for Jingdezhen appears in Gerald Davison's "Handbook of Marks on Chinese Porcelain" in association with commercially produced 19th century porcelain from the Imperial Kiln town of that name in Jiangxi Province. Decoration of this set also is stylistically consistent with the doucai lotus scroll motif found on Guangxu (1875-1908) mark and period ceramics produced at Jingdezhen around the end of the 19th century.SIZE: With components in place, the assembled set measures approximately 6.5 inches (16.6 cm) in diameter across its liner and stands slightly more than 6.25 inches (15.9 cm) high.CONDITION: Unusually good for estimated age, with below average wear in most areas. None of the components have any discernable cracks or restoration of the porcelain. A smooth glaze flake of about one eighth of an inch in diameter is missing from the outer edge of the liner foot. The cover has a couple of dimples that stretch for about a quarter of an inch in the white glaze near its upper rim. Both of these issues probably are production-related. Gilt wear around the edge of the liner and in tracery within the motif appears to us to be below average for an item of this age. Otherwise t are only the inevitable small irregularities of glaze and painting that mark the piece as typical of 19th century handmade porcelain from a traditional kiln.FYI: Please remember, our description and its assumptions regarding the lot for sale are based on the best resources available while the listing is in preparation. To maximize bidder advantages, the text is supplemented by photos meant to afford visual perspectives approximating those of an on-site preview as closely as is possible in this venue and format. The seller would be happy to try to clarify information and provide additional images if requests are received in time to comply. Meanwhile, please read the listing carefully, observe our terms, examine all pictures closely and clarify any issues before placing your bid.TERMS: We consider all sales to be final, as per standard terms typically invoked in... read more

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