Ming dynasty, c. 1643
The bowl has variously pierced lattice-work panels created in opposite pairs, including cash and honeycomb patterns, surrounded by underglaze-blue frames with a border of 'ruyi' heads below and a wave band above reserved with white flowerheads and crested waves.
Diameter 11.7 cm
Provenance: The Hatcher Collection, sold at Christie's Amsterdam, June 1984 (sticker)
The bowl is part of a group of thirty similar octagonal reticulated bowls recovered from the Hatcher wreck, dating to c. 1643.
The Chinese term for the openwork design is 'ling long', in the West also known as 'Devil's Work'.
Great skill was required in cutting the design by hand when it was still 'leather hard'.
A pair of identical bowls are in the British Museum and illustrated by Jessica Harrison-Hall in 'Ming Ceramics in the British Museum (12.41 and 12.42)
BF 46 明 哈察船貨 鏤空開光青花紋碗
c. 1643
碗呈八邊形，成對的鏤雕錢紋與蜂巢紋構成多組開光，開光外飾青花邊框，下飾如意雲紋一周，外口沿下畫花朵與波浪紋。
大英博物館藏有一對外型極為相似的碗。
來源：阿姆斯特丹佳士得，1984年(標籤)
直徑：11.7公分
