A Chinese Blue and White ‘Three Friends of Winter’ Bowl. With rounded sides rising from a short foot, the exterior brightly painted in shades of cobalt blue with prunus, pine and bamboo forming the “Three Friends of Winter”, the interior with a central medallion of bamboo issuing from stylised rockwork, inscribed to the base with a six-character mark reading: Shende Tang chuangu shi (Made for the Hall of Prudent Virtue in ancient style). Period: 17th century. Diameter: 20 cm.