A fine and rare pair of small copper-red 'nine dragon' cups. Marks and period of Yongzheng

the steep gently curving sides painted in a vibrant underglaze copper-red with characteristic green spotting, of nine five-clawed dragons arranged in two tiers leaping and plunging amongst ruyi-shaped clouds and flames over rolling crested waves around the foot, their faces clenched revealing sharp fangs and eyes glaring towards one another, the base with an underglaze-blue six-character mark within double-squares - 6 cm., 2 3/8 in. - Lot Sold: 2,780,000 HKD

PROVENANCE: The Property of a Far Eastern Collector.
Christie's Hong Kong, 23rd March 1993, lot 794.

NOTE: Only one other pair of cups of this design appears to have been published, but with four-character hall marks, sold at Christie's Hong Kong, 23^rd March 1993, lot 795. The Qing emperors' predilection for unique objects coupled with the technical expertise of the craftsmen at the Imperial Palace Workshops in Jingdezhen saw a great expansion of decorative motifs, of which the present cups are a good example. The five-clawed dragon is symbolic of the emperor, and the meticulously detailed yet dynamic execution of the creatures on these cups is characteristic of the Yongzheng period.

Sotheby's. Fine Chinese Ceramics & Works of Art. 08 Oct 08. Hong Kong - www.sothebys.com - Photo Courtesy Sotheby's