A LARGE CANTON 'FAMILLE ROSE' PORCELAIN BOWL MADE FOR THE IRANIAN EXPORT MARKET
China and Iran, late 19th century

Of hemispherical shape, resting on a straight short foot, the interior and exterior clad in the typical Guangdong famille rose decoration and composition, the interior of the bowl embellished with bright polychrome colours and lobed medallions filled with Chinese interior scenes with figures alternated with floral bouquets and birds, butterflies and fruits against a gold ground, the rim fully gilt, the exterior mirroring the decoration on the interior, the base plain with an old paper label stating Tao Kuang 1821 - 1860, 39.5cm diam.

Provenance: Bonhams Edinburgh, 26 March 2014, lot 274.

A renowned service decorated with the same Canton famille rose pattern on a grey-mauve background is usually attributed to a special commission of the Qajar governor of Isfahan, Mirza Zill al-Sultan (1850 - 1918). Differently from this bowl, porcelain vessels in this service tend to be clearly marked with a gold roundel with a golden epigraphic inscription clearly mentioning his name (see lot 197). It is however possible that certain vessels were produced as extras or replacements and may thus have not been marked with the distinctive epigraphic roundel.