Description
A pair of Chinese Dowager Empress bowls 19th century, painted in overglaze grisaille with blossoming branches, bulbous plants, hops and ruyi fungus on a bright yellow ground, three character mark for Daya Zhai (Studio of great Elegance) next to a cartouche containing two dragons pursuing a flaming pearl with the words tiandi yijia chun (Heaven and Earth harmonious as one family), a four character mark to the base for yongquin changchun (Enduring Spring eternally celebrated). 14cm. (2)
Cf. M. Wilson, Rare Marks on Chinese Ceramics, front cover and p.40 for a similar example, and also R. Scott, Elegant Form and Harmonious Decoration, p.173.
