Lot 022 A RARE AND MAGNIFICENT LARGE BLUE AND WHITE ‘GARDENIA’ DISH MARK AND PERIOD OF XUANDE

Description

A RARE AND MAGNIFICENT LARGE BLUE AND WHITE ‘GARDENIA’ DISH
MARK AND PERIOD OF XUANDE
明宣德 青花折枝栀子花果纹大盘
《大明宣德年制》款
MEASUREMENTS 尺寸
Diameter 直径: 42.6 cm, 16 ¾ in.
ESTIMATE 估价
USD 40,000 — 60,000
(HKD 312,000 — 468,000)
DESCRIPTION 拍品详述
The dish is impressively potted with a flared rim and deep curved sides, supported on a short, tapered ring foot. The interior is masterfully painted in the center with a blooming gardenia sprig, bearing thick leaves and rounded fruits, symbolizing fertility and auspiciousness. Both the interior and exterior walls are decorated with a continuous, fluid band of floral scrolls, showcasing the artist’s confident and powerful brushwork.
The decoration is rendered in the celebrated imported “Sumali Blue” cobalt, which yields a deep, multi-layered blue tone. Where the pigment is most concentrated, characteristic blackish-brown “iron-rust” spots (also known as the “heaped and piled” effect) appear, penetrating the glaze and creating a tactile, ink-like “bleeding” effect reminiscent of traditional Chinese ink-wash paintings. The glaze is thick, lustrous, and of a subtle bluish-white tint. The exterior rim is inscribed with a six-character reign mark in regular script (kaishu) reading Da Ming Xuande Nian Zhi.
此器体量宏大，撇口，弧壁，下承圈足，胎骨坚致。盘心绘折枝栀子花一株，花朵盛开，果实累累，枝叶舒展自然，寓意多子多福。内外壁装饰一周缠枝花卉纹，笔触舒放有力，展现出宣德时期特有的刚劲画风。
本品所用青料为著名的进口“苏麻离青”，发色苍雅深沉。浓聚处可见明显的黑褐色铁锈斑（又称“锡光”），斑点深入釉骨，表面微有凹凸感，形成水墨于宣纸上“晕散”的独特美感。釉质肥厚莹润，白中闪青。外壁近口沿处横书**“大明宣德年制”**六字楷书款。此盘规格宏大，为明代宣德官窑之典范。
PROVENANCE & EXHIBITION 来源及展览
• Provenance: Formerly in the collection of the Okada Museum of Art, Japan.
• Exhibition: Featured in the Exhibition of Chinese Ceramics, Fukui Prefecture, 1984 (Showa 59), Catalogue No. 3, titled “Ming Dynasty, Ko-sometsuke Floral Pattern Shallow Bowl.”
• 来源： 日本冈田美术馆旧藏。
• 展览： 1984年（昭和五十九年）日本福井县，《中国陶瓷展》，图录编号3，记为“明 古染附花卉纹平钵”。
CATALOGUE NOTE 专家评注
The Xuande period is widely regarded as the “Golden Age” of Chinese blue and white porcelain. Measuring an impressive 42.6 cm, this charger represents the peak of early Ming imperial ceramic production. The ‘Gardenia’ motif is among the most refined and historically significant patterns of the Xuande reign, originally derived from Song Dynasty floral painting traditions.
What distinguishes this piece is the masterful control of the “heaped and piled” effect—the cobalt is so richly applied that it creates a sense of three-dimensional texture on the blossoms, achieving a perfect balance between power and elegance. Large dishes of this size were particularly difficult to fire without warping or collapsing in the kiln, making this an exceptional feat of Ming ceramic engineering. The inclusion of this dish in the 1984 Fukui Prefecture Exhibition and its tenure in the Okada Museum of Art provide an unassailable provenance, placing it in the same league as masterpieces found in the world’s leading institutional collections, such as the Palace Museum, Beijing and the British Museum.
宣德朝被公认为中国青花瓷器的**“黄金时代”。此件栀子花纹盘直径达 42.6厘米，体量非凡，代表了明早期御窑陶瓷生产的最高巅峰。“栀子花纹”**源自宋代花鸟画传统，是宣德朝最为雅致且极具历史价值的御用图案之一。
本品之卓越，在于其对**“苏麻离青”晕散效果的完美驾驭——浓郁的青料在花瓣上形成了极具层次感的视觉深度与立体质感**，展现了明早期御窑在力度与优雅间的平衡。如此大尺寸的器物在窑炉中极难保持不失圆，是明代制瓷工艺的奇迹。曾展出于1984年日本福井县《中国陶瓷展》并入藏著名的冈田美术馆，如此清晰权威的流传序列，使其足以与北京故宫博物院及大英博物馆等世界顶级机构的馆藏精品相媲美。
CONDITION REPORT 状况报告
• Condition: In overall excellent state given its substantial dimensions. The cobalt remains vibrant and the glaze retains its original brilliance. Minor firing imperfections and light surface wear consistent with age and use.
• 状况： 鉴于其巨大的尺寸，整体品相极佳。青花发色艳丽，釉面光泽依旧。见少量时代特征之自然窑缝或微小磨损，符合其年代特征。