A RUBY-PINK ENAMELED BOWL, YONGZHENG MARK AND PERIOD

China. Delicately potted with deep rounded sides supported on a short straight foot, the exterior covered in a bright ruby-pink enamel with orange peel texture, the interior with a clear glaze. The recessed base with an underglaze-blue six-character kaishu mark da Qing Yongzheng nianzhi within a double circle and of the period.

Provenance: The collection of Peter and Nancy Thompson. The interior with an old label of the ‘Thompson Collection’, inscribed with an inventory number, ‘41’, the interior of the foot lacquered with an inventory number, ‘T.C 41’. An important private collection of Chinese porcelain in Dublin, Ireland, acquired from the above via the London auction market. Peter and Nancy Thompson were scholarly collectors of Chinese art based in Hong Kong. They carefully selected pieces from international auction houses and leading dealers, including J. J. Lally and major Hong Kong dealers, building a collection that showcased the diverse facets of Chinese porcelain. Many of their pieces have been on loan to Hull University since 1985 and were featured in exhibitions such as Chinese Ceramics of the Transitional Period (1985) and From the Tang to the Qing (1996). Portions of their extensive collection were sold by Sotheby’s London on 7 November 2012 in an auction titled Chinese Ceramics from the Collection of Peter and Nancy Thompson, as well as through several smaller London auction houses.
Condition: Excellent condition with only minor wear and minimal firing irregularities.

Weight: 93.9 g
Dimensions: Diameter 9.7 cm

In its clean form and vibrant hue, the present cup exemplifies the Yongzheng Emperor’s incessant pursuit of refined beauty in simple forms. The pink enamel was probably first introduced in China from Europe through Jesuit missionaries during the Kangxi period (see Nigel Wood, Chinese Glazes, Hong Kong, 1999, pp. 241-243). Numerous scientific experiments were conducted, resulting in an improved recipe of a matte ruby-pink enamel derived from colloidal gold combined with an admixture of opaque white lead arsenate. With the achievements of these technological advancement, an array of small refined vessels characterized by fine potting and perfectly fired enamels of bright hues were commissioned during the Yongzheng reign, and the present bowl is undoubtedly an example of such.

Literature comparison:
A Yongzheng cup of this form and enamel color was included in the exhibition Zhongguo ming tao Riben xunhui zhan [Exhibition of famous Chinese ceramics touring Japan], National Museum of History, Taipei, 1993, page 177.

Auction result comparison:
Type: Near identical
Auction: Bonhams New York, 21 September 2020, lot 211
Price: USD 47,575 or approx. EUR 52,000 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing
Description: A rare ruby-pink enameled bowl, Yongzheng mark and of the period
Expert remark: Compare the near identical form, ruby-pink enamel, Yongzheng reign mark, and size (9.7 cm), with similar orange peel texture and calligraphy. Also note the similarly faded cobalt blue.