The bottom of the bowl has a series of four small flowers in the same dark underglaze cobalt blue – they are connected by vines and leaves. The bottom rim is unglazed and the interior of the short foot has a plain grayish celadon glaze. There are three rim frits on the upper rim and short firing fault – a ½” line – in the cavetto. There are a couple of small firing faults on the bottom where the glaze did not adhere.

We believe the bowl dates from the late Ming to early Qing dynasty and could be a provincial or country piece. In view of the number of excellent reproductions and copies now at large in the market, we will be conservative and date it to the 19th century. However, the graininess of the glaze and the overall patina do have us pretty well convinced that it dates to about the 16th to 17th century. It is not signed or have any reign marks. The bowl measures 9 ½” diameter at the top – 6” diameter at the base – and is 2” deep.