Ming ceramics to be highlight of Hong Kong auction

On April 5, several refined examples of imperial porcelain from the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) will be auctioned in Hong Kong. They feature a variety of patterns and methods of applying glazes, and indicate the varied tastes of collectors of Chinese art in different continents.

Among the lots, the one that will really cause a stir is a blue-and-white qinghua bowl standing 23 centimeters high, and decorated on the exterior with a dynamic scene of four fishes swimming in a pond of blossoming lotus.

The bowl was crafted in the early 15th century during the reign of Emperor Xuande (1426-35), a period in which blue-and-white ceramics were produced in official kilns and is now recognized as the apex of China's porcelain-making history.