Chinese Export Porcelain Tea Bowl hand painted flower balls - 花球 Huā qiú - Marked Yongzheng Antique Qing late 19th century to early 20th C

An attractive Chinese porcelain tea bowl elegantly potted with rounded sides rising from a short foot to a slightly flared rim, decorated with neatly hand painted "Flower Balls"  (花球 , Huā qiúe) in the famille rose colour palette. There are twelve different multi coloured flower balls arranged asymmetrically some freely floating, others overlapping in small clusters of two or three blooms, all carefully enamelled in soft pastels against a white ground around the outside of the bowl in pink, green, blue, turquoise, yellow, peach and black enamel. The rim is gilded. The base is marked with an iron red seal mark for Emperor Yongzheng (1723 - 1735)  - 大清雍正年製 however, this we believe is apocryphal, and the tea bowl most probably dates to the late 19th to early 20th century at the end of the Qing dynasty to early republic period.

This pattern of overlapping roundels appears to have its origins in Japanese design, where Mon - circular heraldic family symbols, are a popular motif for adorning textiles, lacquer, ceramics and other works of art. Although the adoption of this design by the Qing imperial kilns is very likely due to the Yongzheng Emperor’s interest in Japanese aesthetics.

It is in good antique condition, there is a crack to the rim and some rubbing to the gilding. Please see the images.

Free UK  postage and packing when purchased at the listed price. International shipping at cost.

Tea bowl height 2 3/8 inches ( 6.2 cm)
Tea bowl diameter 3 3/8 inches ( 8.5 cm)
Weight 93 grammes unpacked.

References:

From the Meiyintang Collection. A fine pair of doucai 'ball-flower' bowls, Marks and period of Yongzheng (1723-1735); 10.2 cm., 4 in. Sold for 11,300,000 HKD (1,453,632 USD) at Sotheby's Hong Kong, 7th April 2011, lot 6.