Lot 130. The Leshantang Collection. A rare incised aubergine-ground yellow-enamelled 'dragon' bowl, Mark and period of Wanli (1573-1620); 15.3 cm. Lot Sold 4,318,000 HKD (Estimate 1,500,000 - 2,000,000 HKD). © Sotheby's 2024

deftly incised and enamelled on the exterior with two five-clawed yellow dragons pursuing flaming pearls amidst  ruyi clouds, their eyes, horns, claws and spines delicately reserved in white while the pupils highlighted by black dots, above a keyfret band encircling the high straight foot , all reserved on an aubergine ground, the interior painted in underglaze-blue with a double ring in the center and a single line around the rim, the slightly convex base inscribed with a six-character reign mark within a double circle.

Provenance: Collection of Alfred Morrison (1821-97), Fonthill House, Tisbury, Wiltshire.
Collection of Lord Margadale of Islay, TD (1906-96).
Offered at Sotheby's Hong Kong, 8th November 1982, lot 113.

Literature: Zhongguo mingtao Riben xunhui zhan. Gangtai mingjia shoucang taoci jingpin [Exhibition of famous Chinese ceramics touring Japan. Fine ceramics from private Hong Kong and Taiwanese Collections], Museum of History, Taipei, 1992, p. 158.
Geng Baochang, Ming Qing ciqi jianding [Appraisal of Ming and Qing porcelain], Hong Kong, 1993, col. pl. 71.

The Leshantang Collection of Chinese Porcelain, Taipei, 2005, pl. 26.

Exhibited: Chūgoku meitō ten: Chūgoku tōji 2000-nen no seika [Exhibition of important Chinese ceramics: Essence of two thousand years of Chinese ceramics], Nihonbashi Takashimaya, Tokyo, and six other locations in Japan, 1992, cat. no. 100.
Ching Wan Society Millennium Exhibition , Chang Foundation, Taipei, 2000, cat. no. 96.

Note: Wanli 'dragon' bowls executed in this color palette are exceedingly rare, with a total of only four recorded examples including the present bowl: see a restored example, formerly in the Bloxam Collection, now housed in the British Museum (accession no. 1928, 0718.5); another also from the Fonthill Heirlooms and the collection of Lord Margadale of Islay, TD, possibly the pair to the present bowl, was sold in these rooms, 16th May 1977, lot 51, subsequently entered the TY Chao Collection, later sold again on 19th May 1987, lot 258, and entered the CP Lin Collection and illustrated in  Ming and Qing Chinese Arts from the CP Lin Collection , Hong Kong Museum of Art, Hong Kong, 2014, cat. no. 107; and a further example exhibited in Chinese Arts of the Ming and Ch'ing Periods , Tokyo National Museum, Tokyo, 1963, cat. no. 367, and later sold at Christie's Hong Kong, 28th November 2018, lot 2923.

While there are a few monochrome renditions of this type, such as the aubergine version in the Beijing Palace Museum (accession no. Gu-144958) and the yellow example in the Taipei Palace Museum (accession no. Guci-016014N), the present bowl distinguishes itself from its peers with its clever use of the white porcelain body as a third color to accentuate the intricate details of the dragons and act as a simple decorative band around the rim. To further enhance the spirit and vigour of the dragons, the pupils are thoughtfully dotted in black.

Looking at Wanli imperial porcelain with dragon pattern, those with purple and yellow colors on the eggplant skin are extremely rare. Only four examples are known to exist in the world, including this product. There is a restored example in the British Museum, from the Bloxam collection (collection number: 1928,0718.5). Another was in the collection of Fangshanju and Lord Magdalen, or may be paired with this bowl. It was released at Sotheby's Hong Kong on May 16, 1977, lot 51. It later entered the collection of Zhao Congyan and was released at Sotheby's Hong Kong. May 19, 1987, No. 258; returned to the collection of Evergreen Museum, and included in "Ming and Qing Porcelain, Jade, Angular, Bamboo, and Painted Enamels from the Evergreen Collection", Hong Kong Museum of Art, Hong Kong, 2014, No. 107. The last example was exhibited in "Chinese Ming and Qing Art Exhibition Catalog", Tokyo National Museum, Tokyo, 1963, No. 367, and later sold at Christie's Hong Kong on November 28, 2018, No. 2923.

This kind of decoration can also be seen on monochromatic glazed porcelain, and there are also only a few examples. For example, a light eggplant skin purple glaze bowl with hidden cloud and dragon patterns collected in the Qing Dynasty is now stored in the Palace Museum, Beijing (collection number: 144958); the National Palace Museum, Taipei There is also an example of yellow glaze in the collection (collection number: Gu porcelain-016014N). This bowl uses thin lines to lightly draw the cloud and dragon pattern, apply yellow color on the purple ground, and then fill in white color on the details of the longan, five claws and dragon whiskers as the third color to set off the dragon pattern, making it more eye-catching and distinct than other examples. . It is also decorated with rims, which are exquisite, unique and full of interest. And add black color to the dragon's eyes to make it more lively and lively.

Sotheby's. The Leshantang Collection (II) – Treasures of Chinese Art from the Tsai I-Ming Collection, Hong Kong, 9 April 2024.