Finely painted bowl, the center with a scene perhaps from the Romance of the Western Chamber, showing a wild-looking bearded character with sword raised over the heads of the young scholar Zhang Sheng and the young lady Cui Yingying, the whole scene emanating in a cloud from dreaming head of the young scholar dozing over his books in a window on the right side of the scene. The center is bordered by a band with four reserves showing fish and shrimp against a diaper pattern ground. The rim has crabs and ducks in water among lotus, interspersed with flowering plants. All the creatures are painted with a captivating wit; it is hard to examine them without smiling. Fresh bright cobalt blue on skim-milk white, finely potted, with brown dressing to rim. Underside with Lingzhi fungus on the cavetto and jade mark within a double circle to base. Chip to foot rim, a few tiny flea bites to rim, no cracks or hairlines. Two paper labels to underside for Polly Latham Asian Art. Approx. 8 1/2" diameter.