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Rare Imperial Bowl Sells for Over $2 Million
20 Oct
Summary
- A Qing dynasty porcelain bowl sold for $2.048 million at auction.
- The 14.3-centimetre bowl features auspicious symbols for long life and blessings.
- Proceeds will support the Art Institute of Chicago's Asian art collection.
An exquisite 18th-century porcelain bowl, crafted by imperial artisans during China's Qing dynasty, commanded a price of $2.048 million at a Christie's auction in New York. The 14.3-centimetre piece dates to the reign of Emperor Yongzheng (1723-1735) and showcases the famille rose style with a unique "flowering branch passing over the rim" design. This rare technique, where painted motifs seamlessly transition from the exterior to the interior, was exceptionally challenging for craftsmen.
The bowl is adorned with six peaches, symbolizing long life, and five red bats, representing the Five Blessings. This combination of imagery, along with a phrase sounding like "long peace under good government," suggests it may have been commissioned for the Emperor's birthday. Such detailed symbolism and masterful execution place it among the finest works for the Yongzheng court.
Formerly owned by Paris art dealer C.T. Loo, the bowl was acquired by collector Russell Tyson and donated to the Art Institute of Chicago in 1939. It remained with the museum for 87 years before being auctioned to support its Asian art collection. Christie's noted strong buyer interest in imperial artworks with well-documented ownership histories, as exemplified by this sale.
