An exceptional massive Chinese blue, white and copper-red fish bowl with antiquities and 'Master of the rocks'-style panels, Kangxi

Dia.: 60,5 cm - H.: 48 cm

The present fish bowl is unique. There appears to be no record of another example combining the vivid 'Master of the Rocks'-style panels with magnificently painted arrangements of scholar's objects. The landscape panels are captured in leaf-shaped medallions, while the arrangements of scholar's objects are left unframed, yet remain in perfect balance with the leaves. The upper band is decorated with underglaze blue and copper-red peony scrolls. The lower band features five kui dragons surrounded by lotus scrolls, where the lotus flowers stand out as executed in a vibrant shade of copper-red. The copper-red is fired to perfection throughout, an impressive realisation on such a grand scale piece.

Provenance:
- An important Belgian private collection.

Condition: (UV-checked)
- Generally in very good to excellent condition, without repairs or significant damage
- The glaze very well-preserved, with a shiny and glossy outlook on the exterior.
- Along the rim, numerous short brown-stained scratches are visible, probably due to having been metal-mounted at some point in the past.
- There are a number of superficial scratches to the glaze throughout, commensurate with the age.
- There are a number of baking flaws throughout: a diagonal line is visible to one of the landscape panels, where the glaze has slightly pulled away, there is a baking-related bulge on the upper rim and there are a few small spots where the glaze has burst.
- There is minor supericial wear throughout.