Sold on thesaleroom – Chinese Republican dish brings huge bidding
16 December 2019 A small Chinese dish drew fervent bidding at the end of last month, selling at 90-times estimate to a buyer on thesaleroom.com.
A Republican-period dish by Jingdezhen decorator Wang Bu that sold for £4500 at Mitchells and was bought by a bidder on thesaleroom.com.
Although not described as such in the catalogue, the 7½in (18cm) Republican period dish finely painted in enamels with a luohan resting under a tree was painted by a celebrated Jingdezhen decorator.
Those who translated the signature and seal found the artist was the celebrated Jingdezhen decorator Wang Bu (1898-1968).
It was his work in underglaze blue and white decoration, that earned him, in his later years, the title of qinghua dawang (the king of blue and white).
However, he created numerous works with overglaze enamels including those produced in the period both during and after the war with Japan when there was a scarcity of cobalt.
This dish, offered for sale at Mitchells in Cockermouth on November 27 with an estimate of £30-50, was not in perfect condition. There was a section of restoration across the left-hand side rim that covered perhaps three small chips. Nevertheless it attracted multiple bidders before selling via thesaleroom.com for £4500.
