A pair of blue and white 'phoenix' bowls, Seal marks and period of Daoguang

Collection of Fu Zuoyi (1895-1974), and thence by descent.

Fu Zuoyi (1895–1974) was one of the most prominent military and political figures of modern China. As commander of Nationalist forces in North China, he negotiated the peaceful surrender of Beiping (present-day Beijing) in January 1949, an event widely credited with sparing the ancient capital from the destruction of urban warfare and preserving its historic monuments and cultural heritage. He subsequently served as the first Minister of Water Resources of the People's Republic of China, holding the post for twenty-three years.