A CHINESE IMPERIAL YELLOW GROUND ANHUA-DECORATED MEDALLION BOWL

SIX CHARACTER KANGXI MARK IN UNDERGLAZE BLUE AND OF THE PERIOD 1662-1722

The U-shaped body with a gently flaring rim, incised to the exterior with four medallions divided by clouds, all above a band of lappets to the foot, the interior with a fifth medallion enclosed within a double ring, decorated all over with a yellow glaze, the base glazed white, a paper label for Bluett & Sons London, 12cm.

Provenance: purchased by Bluett & Sons from A R Ashwell, 26th September 1934, for £4. The collection of Basil Drewe, purchased from Bluett & Sons, 26th November 1935, for £6, and thence by descent.

Cf. R Davids & D Jellinek, Provenance, p.52 for information about A R Ashwell. The Percival David Foundation, Illustrated Catalogue of Ming and Qing Monochrome Wares, p.45, no.A599, where a bowl of this design from the Elphinstone collection is listed; see also R Krahl with C von Spee, Chinese Ceramics from the Gulexuan Collection, p.128, no.97.