A Chinese Export Porcelain Famille Rose Green Ground Basin Bowl

Late Qing dynasty or early Republic period, early 20th century, porcelain hand painted in famille rose palette over a pale lime green ground, with a medallion to the center depicting boys playing in a garden, surrounded by shaped reserves painted with birds and flowering plants, the green ground densely decorated with scrolling foliage, lotus blossoms, and peaches, the exterior painted in iron red with sprays of bamboo, the underside with an apocryphal six-character Qianlong seal mark in iron red.

4 1/2 in., 15 1/4 in. diameter

From the Collection of John and Sandra Christian, III, of New York, San Francisco, and Richmond

John Wortham Christian III (1951–2023) of Richmond, Virginia, was a lifelong traveler and collector whose appreciation for the arts and cultures of Asia developed through decades of international travel. After graduating from Duke University, Christian began his career with Bloomingdale’s in New York, where his work as a buyer and later Vice President of Contemporary Apparel took him extensively throughout Europe, Far East Asia, Southeast Asia, and India in search of emerging designers, artisans, and traditional crafts.

He later moved to San Francisco to join I. Magnin, eventually serving as Vice President and General Merchandise Manager. Travel remained a defining passion throughout his life. Christian and his wife, Sandra, sought out destinations well beyond the conventional tourist routes, traveling extensively in Asia and the Himalayas, including India, Nepal, Bhutan, Myanmar, Thailand, and other parts of Southeast Asia. These journeys fostered their enduring interest in the art, craftsmanship, and material cultures of the countries they visited.

Restoration to majority of rim.