A CHINESE FAMILLE ROSE 'BUTTERFLY' TEA BOWL FOUR CHARACTER XIANFENG MARK AND OF THE PERIOD...

A CHINESE FAMILLE ROSE 'BUTTERFLY' TEA BOWL

FOUR CHARACTER XIANFENG MARK AND OF THE PERIOD 1851-61

Painted in enamels and gilt with butterflies amidst small blossoms and shrubs, inscribed to the well with three characters reading Su Shi ju, the cavetto inscribed san shi shi lai fen, 6.6cm.

Su Shi (1037-1101) was a Chinese calligrapher, poet and politician during the Song dynasty and he is generally regarded as one of the most accomplished and important figures in classical Chinese literature.