China, 1796-1820. Each neatly potted with remarkably thin walls, supported on succinct foot rims, and of distinctive, flaring form. Finely decorated to the exterior in cobalt blue, red, green, and yellow enamels, all embellished with meticulously applied gilt. Painted with five large medallions in the form of leafy fruiting trees divided by pomegranate sprays, above a lappet band enclosing the foot.

The recessed bases each with an underglaze-blue six-character seal mark da Qing Jiaqing nianzhi and of the period.

Each with a matching black and gold-lacquered stand, supported on five ruyi-form feet, most likely coming from Imperial production as well, and having remained with these bowls ever since. In the 1993 Sotheby’s catalog entry, these stands are described as follows: “Supported on circular black lacquer stands finely edged in gilt lacquer”. (4)

Condition: The bowls with only minor wear and few firing flaws including dark spots and small burst bubbles. The separate stands with few minor chips and small natural age cracks. Overall displaying exceptionally well and near-impossible to find in this near-perfect condition together with their matching stands.
Provenance:
-Sotheby's London, 7 December 1993, lot 286.
-The Inder Rieden Collection, acquired from the above.
-Bonhams London, Fine Chinese Art, 10 November 2011, lot 100, estimate GBP 50,000 or approx. EUR 96,500 (converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing).
-A noted European private collection, acquired from the above in an after-sale transaction.

Each bowl and lacquer base with an old Sotheby’s label, ‘no. 286/4, 7 December 1993’.

Anthony Inder Rieden was a Dutch financial advisor and hedge fund manager who is well known for his collection of 17^th century Dutch maritime paintings, the largest in private hands. Inder Rieden’s collection of Imperial Chinese porcelain represented another of his passions and was formed over three decades, initially focusing on monochromes and Kangxi blue and white of the type imported by the V.O.C., but then gradually developing into an enhanced taste for the finest quality enameled 'mark and period' wares of Imperial China.

Weight: 224.8 g and 227.5 g (excl. bases)
Dimensions: Diameter 15.5 cm and 15.6 cm

Expert’s note:
Bowls with this decoration are based on Kangxi prototypes, such as the example found in the Qing Court collection, illustrated in The Complete Collection of Treasures of the Palace Museum, Porcelains in Polychrome and Contrasting Colors, Hong Kong, 1999, p. 216, no. 197. It is interesting to note, however, that the Kangxi examples tend to have more rounded sides when compared to later types, which tend to have steep, flared sides.

Literature comparison:
It is rare for a pair of Jiaqing seal mark and period doucai bowls of this design to be offered for sale. Compare a single doucai flaring bowl illustrated in Treasures in the Royalty: The Official Kiln Porcelain of the Chinese Qing Dynasty, Shanghai, 2003, p. 363.

Auction result comparison:
Type: Closely related
Auction: Christie’s New York, 15 September 2011, lot 1542
Price: USD 134,500 or approx. EUR 171,000 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing
Description: Two doucai bowls, one with Qianlong seal mark and one with Jiaqing seal mark, and both of the period
Expert remark: Compare the closely related form, decoration, and size (15 cm). One bowl has a Jiaqing mark similar to those on the present lot. Note the complete lack of gilt and the slight variations in the color patterns.