Of saucer shape with shallow rounded sides, decorated in vibrant shades of underglaze blue, the interior with a mythical beast, Kylin, dramatically poised, breathing fire amongst cloud formations and plantain in a landscape, the rim dressed with iron-oxide, the base with a four-character commendation mark. Period: Shunzi (1644 - 1661). Diameter c. 35.5 cm.
Provenance:
Swedish private collection, acquired during the 1950s.
Note:
The present lot is painted in “High transitional style”. There are similar examples in the Palace Museum, Beijing, illustrated in Gugong Bowuyuan Cang Qingdai Ciqui Leixuan Qing Shunzhi Kangxi Chao Qinghuci, [Selected Chinese Ceramics from the Palace Museum; Blue and White Ceramics in Shunzhi and Kangxi Periods] vol. I, Beijing, 2004, pl. 20, and another in the Butler Family Collection, illustrated in Shunzhi Porcelain, Treasures from an Unknown Reign, Seattle and London, 2002, cat. no 13, and another mis-dated to Kangxi can be seen in Eastern Ceramics and other Works of Art from the Collection of Gerald Reitlinger, Catalogue of the Memorial Exhibition, Ashmolean Museum, Sotheby Parke Bernet, 1981.
