A rare Qianlong period soapstone bowl of round form, carved with flowers including branches of flowering prunus, peonies and hibiscus, all above a band of joined petals, and splayed moulded foot.
Peonies were used by Chinese Emperors, they were rare flowers and hard to cultivate, and came to represent wealth and good health.
Hibiscus came to symbolise personal growth and accomplishment from within.