Painted Enamel Bowl with Kangxi Reign Mark and Lotus and Longevity Designs on Rouge Ground

The bowl's exterior is decorated with four painted-enamel lotus motifs against a ground of rouge glaze. Each large floral grouping comprises a ring of yellow petals enclosing a circular longevity character (shou) inscribed in blue enamel. From either side of the floral pattern rises a naturalistic lotus spray with beautiful blossoms.The centre of the base is inscribed in underglaze blue with a reign mark that may be translated to read, "Made by the imperial command of the Kangxi Emperor" (Kangxi yuzhi, reign period 1662-1722) in regular script. 

Website version edited by Zhuang Ying and Adam J. Ensign