A Dream Realised: Kangxi's Ultimate Falangcai Bowl

This exquisite imperial bowl represents the pinnacle of falangcai art during the Kangxi period. The Kangxi Emperor’s dream of perfecting local production of painted enamels achieved extraordinary realisation with this exceptional and unique ‘double lotus’ bowl.

From its shape, enamelling and decoration, the current bowl was made towards the end of the Kangxi reign, possibly in his last year in 1722, the period when falangcai production reached its perfection.

Through the ages, the bowl has been part of some of the most outstanding private collections across the world. Its fascinating journey began as part of the collection of Alfred Trapnell (1838-1917), an English collector and former sea captain. It later entered the collections of various distinguished figures including Raymond F.A. Riesco (1877-1964), Mr. Robert Chang and Dr. Alice Cheng.