MING UNDERGLAZE COPPER-RED MANDARIN DUCK SHAPED VASEH: 8.6 IN. (22 CM)PROVENANCE: BY REPUTE ROBERT GRENVILLE-WILLIAMS (B. 1906) AND BY DESCENT, ROBERT GRENVILLE-WILLIAMS JOINED THE BORDER REGIMENT AND WAS POSTED TO THE CHINA, PEKING, TIETSIN AND HONG KONG FROM 1927-29, AS PART OF THE SHANGHAI DEFENCE FORCE. HE THEN RESIGNED FROM THE ARMY AND JOINED IMPERIAL CHEMICAL INDUSTRIES (ICI) IN HONG KONG FOR 5 YEARS AND LEARNED TO SPEAK MANDARIN. IN 1934 HE RETURNED HOME TO BECOME THE DUKE OF SPENCER AND WELLESLEY'S PRIVATE SECRETARY, WHERE HE ALSO LEARNED TO FLY. DURING THE SECOND WORLD WAR HE VOLUNTEERED FOR THE AUXILIARY AIR FORCE AND BECAME ATTACHED TO CHINESE FORCES IN BURMA AS A PILOT. AUCTION RESULT COMPARISON（RELATED STYLE）:AUCTION: SOTHEBY’S HONG KONG, 06 APRIL 2016 LOT 3647PRICE: HKD 6,080,000 DESCRIPTION: A RARE COPPER-RED 'FLORAL SCROLL' BOWL MING DYNASTY, HONGWU PERIODAUCTION RESULT COMPARISON（RELATED STYLE）:AUCTION: SOTHEBY’S NEW YORK, 21 MARCH 2023 LOT 9PRICE: USD 1,875,000 DESCRIPTION: AN EXCEPTIONALLY RARE AND IMPORTANT SACRIFICIAL-RED-GLAZED BOWL, MARK AND PERIOD OF XUANDEAUCTION RESULT COMPARISON（RELATED STYLE）:AUCTION: SOTHEBY’S HONG KONG, 08 OCTOBER 2014 LOT 3001PRICE: HKD 43,800,000 DESCRIPTION: AN EXCEPTIONAL AND FINE COPPER-RED ‘THREE FISH’ STEMCUP MARK AND PERIOD OF XUANDEAUCTION RESULT COMPARISON（RELATED STYLE）:AUCTION: CHRISTIES HONG KONG, 30 MAY 2006, LOT 1248PRICE: HKD 78,520,000DESCRIPTION: A MAGNIFICENT EARLY MING UNDERGLAZE COPPER-RED VASE,AUCTION RESULT COMPARISON（RELATED STYLE）:AUCTION: CHRISTIES HONG KONG, 27 NOVEMBER 2017, LOT 8001PRICE: HKD 2,500,000DESCRIPTION: A RARE COPPER-RED DECORATED BRACKET-LOBED CUP STAND HONGWU PERIOD (1368-1398)