A LARGE CANTON 'FAMILLE ROSE' PORCELAIN BOWL WITH A MATCHING DISH FROM THE "BLUE SERVICE" OF THE QAJAR PRINCE MAS'UD MIRZA, ZILL AL-SULTAN
Guangdong (Canton), China, made for the Persian export market, dated 1298 AH (1880 - 81 AD)

Comprising a large rounded porcelain serving bowl and a matching shallow rounded dish with raised walls, both painted in polychromes, lilac blue and gold against a milky white ground, each vessel decorated with typical Guangdong famille rose export market decoration and compositions including lobed medallions alternating classical Chinese figural interior scenes showcasing the literati and courtly lifestyles and floral bouquets with birds, butterflies and fruits against a gold ground, all set against a vibrant lilac blue ground livened by white flower sprays and golden trellis, the exterior of the bowl and the centre of the plate decorated with large circular calligraphic medallions in-filled with golden ownership inscriptions in Persian nasta'liq script attributing the vessels to the service of Zill Al-Sultan, the rim gilt, the exterior of the bowl matching the decoration on the interior, the exterior of the dish plain, the base of both vessels unmarked, the bowl 36.5cm diam. and 15.3cm high, and the dish 37cm diam. and 6.5cm high.

Provenance: Christie's London, 25 April 1997, part of lot 215.

Inscription: فرمایش حضرت اسعد امجد ارفع اشرف والا سلطان مسعود میرزا یمین الدوله ظل السلطان ۱۲۹۸
Commissioned by His Excellency, the Auspicious, the Most Glorious, the Highest, the Most Noble, the Eminent Sultan Mas'ud Mirza Yamin al-Dawlah Zill al-Sultan, 1298 AH

Dimensions: the bowl 36.5cm diam. and 15.3cm high, and the dish 37cm diam. and 6.5cm high