CHINA - Late 19th century Set of four porcelain bowls decorated in iron red with a peony in the center surrounded by lotuses alternating with stylized 'shou' (longevity) characters, bats and peaches on a foliate background, the rim decorated with a frieze of ruyi heads. (wear) Diam. 29.4 cm Provenance: Collection of Doctor Maurice Fournials. Appointed in 1923 to the French occupation corps in China, he later became in Peking the guard physician at the French legation, then assistant physician to the President of the Chinese Republic.

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