Attached images of a small number of personal favourite pieces seen/handled during last week’s viewings, which I’ll divide into several post … 

Images 1-6; large meiping, H. 36.2 cm, attributed to Yongle period, the base ink inscription dedicated to the memory of Lyu Wan dated jiwei year, Jiajing reign, so 1559 …

Obvious condition issues, and I understand when originally found the damage areas were being held in place with an old metal band, much corroded, which had seeped in to the cracks. Unfortunately during the restoration it had been somewhat ‘over cleaned’, which had a decremental effect on the glaze surface …

There was a great deal of debate regarding this piece, with some attributing it to late Yongle/early Xuande, others placing it firmly into Xuande reign, and a few thinking it was completely wrong and a much later copy …

Images 7-10; large ‘lotus bouquet’ dish, D. 44.5 cm, attributed to Yongle period. This pattern was very popular during both Yongle and Xuande reigns and the quality of such pieces, as in every period, do vary. The interior centre with some glaze defects/pitts, but this example was beautiful painted in a strong, deep cobalt exhibiting the ‘heaping and piling’ effect …

Images 11/12; large ‘floral’ dish, D. 41.3 cm, attributed to Yongle period. Again, a well known composition seen in both YL/XD periods. I did not think the overall painting, cobalt tone and glaze were as good as the lotus bouquet dish, but my personal thoughts only … 

Stuart