PROVENANCE:
Beijing Johan 2011 Spring Auct ion, Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art 6, lot 218

This lot is very finely potted with rounded sides rising from a short tapered foot to a wide everted rim, superbly painted in rich inky tones of cobalt-blue accented with characteristic 'heaping and piling', the interior decorated with a medallion enclosing three pendent bunches of grapes suspending from a gnarled vine issuing broad curling leaves and coiling tendrils, surrounded on the cavetto with a leafy composite floral scroll bearing twelve flowering blooms, all within a border of lingzhi on the rim.

The blue and white wares of Yongle period show influence of foreign cultures while also preserving the traditional motifs including interlocked twigs, blossoms such as lotus and camellia, fruits such as pomegranate and lychee, etc. These motifs are commonly seen on big dishes, bowls and plum vases, vividly portrayed with fine techniques of traditional Chinese paintings.