A YELLOW-GROUND BLUE AND WHITE 'GARDENIA' DISH, KANGXI PERIOD China, 1661-1722. Well potted with low rounded sides rising to slightly flaring rims, the dish finely painted in underglaze-blue with a central gardenia spray bearing two flowers and buds, the cavetto with evenly spaced sprays of nine grapes on a leafy vine, a beribboned Buddha's hand, a gnarled branch laden with two pomegranates and a persimmon branch with four fruits. The exterior is painted with eight rose blossoms on a continuous meander, all on a rich Imperial yellow ground within double-line borders. The recessed base with an apocryphal six-character mark Daqing Xuande nianzhi in underglaze blue and within a double circle.

Provenance: From the collection of the late Michael Sherrard CBE, QC, acquired before 2000 and thence by descent. The base with an old paper label, inscribed in brown ink: 'Liddles No 2 collection'. Michael Sherrard (1928-2012) was an English barrister in fraud and company law who was considered one of the great recent influences on the legal profession. He was involved in numerous high-profile cases in both English and East Asian courts, particularly Hong Kong and Singapore. Together with Linda Goldman, he wrote a memoir titled “Wigs and Wherefores: A Biography of Michael Sherrard QC”. Sherrard was an enthusiastic collector of Chinese art, especially jade carvings.
Condition: Very good condition with some wear and manufacturing flaws, fritting, and light surface scratches.

Weight: 710 g
Dimensions: Diameter 26.3 cm

This design found much popularity in the mid-Ming period and similar dishes were produced in varying sizes with either a pomegranate or a stylized flower, often identified as gardenia, in the interior. The design was first produced during the Xuande period, and continued through the Jiajing reign, peaking in popularity during the Hongzhi and Zhengde periods.

Literature comparison:
Compare a related yellow ground blue and white dish, dated to the Kangxi period, 1700-1722, in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum, accession number C.373-1921.

Auction result comparison:
Type: Closely related
Auction: Sotheby's New York, 24 March 2018, lot 1559
Price: USD 20,000 or approx. EUR 22,500 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing
Description: A yellow-ground 'double vajra' dish, Qing dynasty, Kangxi period
Expert remark: Compare the closely related colors, the double line borders and the apocryphal Xuande mark. Note the smaller size (20.6 cm).



康熙黃地青花梔子花果紋盤
中國，1661-1722年。黃彩青花，侈口窄唇，淺斜壁，圓腹，矮圈足。盤內底繪折枝青花花卉，外圈以雙圈藍色弦紋，內壁畫有葡萄、石榴、櫻桃等花果，外壁繪轉枝梔子花七朵，四片葉如花開，與梔子花相隔。造型勻稱精美，形態端莊穩重。圈足内白釉，底中心青花雙圈内書“大明宣德年製”六字雙行楷款。

來源：Michael Sherrard CBE，QC 收藏，於 2000 年之前購買，保存至今。Michael Sherrard (1928-2012年) 是一名英國大律師，被認為是近期對法律界產生重大影響的人物之一。 他在英國和東亞法院，尤其是香港和新加坡，參與了多起著名案件。 他與Linda Goldman一起寫了一本回憶錄，題為《Wigs and Wherefores: A Biography of Michael Sherrard QC》。 Sherrard 是一位熱心的中國藝術品收藏家，尤其喜愛玉雕。
品相：品相極好，有一些磨損和製造缺陷和輕微的表面劃痕。

重量：710 克
尺寸：直徑26.3 厘米

此類紋飾在明代中期很受歡迎，類似的盤子有不同大小的，內部有石榴或折枝花卉，統稱爲梔子花紋。梔子花紋飾始見於宣德一朝，中有間斷，成化年間復燒，弘治、正德年間，梔子花紋盛極一時。

文獻比較：
比較一件相近的康熙時期1700年至1722年黃地青花紋盤，收藏於維多利亞與亞伯特博物館，編號 C.373-1921。

拍賣結果比較：
形制：非常相近
拍賣：紐約蘇富比，2018年3月24日，lot 1559
價格：USD 20,000（相當於今日EUR 22,500）
描述：清代康熙黃地雙金剛杵紋盤
專家評論：比較非常相近的顏色，雙圈開光，以及底部雙層偽款。請注意尺寸較小 (20.6 厘米)。