The flared body decorated on the exterior with blue and white archaistic dragon scrolls interrupted by a pair of blue dragon handles, between a lappet border below a ruyi collar above, reserved on a a bright lemon-yellow ground, raised on a flared pedestal base with arched openings and decorated with foliate scroll, the interior in turquoise enamel below the gilded rim, on the base a Daoguang six character mark in iron red in a double square and of the period. 8 1/2 in. long.
Provenance: ex. Sotheby's.
It is rare to find a bowl of this shape and decoration and only one other has been published. Compare Christies New York, December 3, 1993, lot 358. Also compare a celadon glazed square bowl, Daoguang mark and period with flaring sides and a squared fret design, Christies Hong Kong, January 13, 1987, lot 488.
The bowl's design matches ritualistic vessels and falls into that category. Compare a Guangxu ritual covered gui alter vessel, Guhilde Avitabile, "From the Dragon's Treasure", London, 1987, Pl. 115, p. 86.
