Diameter: 16 inches, 40.5cm

An unusually large example of this rare type, with two further landscape panels showing chinese scenes.

The Hongs on the waterfront at Canton were the enclosed factories and shop fronts where the European traders were permitted by the Chinese authorities to do business. By this date much of the overglaze decoration was being done in workshops behind the shops and their kilns frequently set fire to this part of Canton. Thus these bowls provide a useful record of the changing architecture of the waterfront: this scene is taken from a painting of about 1760. The flags depicted here are Danish, French, Swedish, British and Dutch.

References: HERVOUET, F&N & BRUNEAU, Y, (1986) p25, No 1.26, a similar example; COHEN & COHEN (2003) Soldier, Soldier, p50, an example of the type with a continuous scene around the bowl, with an account of the trade in Canton and an extensive list of references for Hong bowls.