Lot 32. A very rare and large incised yellow-glazed 'dragon' dish, Incised Kangxi six-character mark and of the period (1662-1722); 51.5cm (20 1/4in) diam. Estimate £40,000 - 60,000 (€48,000 - 73,000). Sold for £ 80,500 (€ 90,355). © Bonhams.

The broad shallow dish incised on the interior with a front-facing five-clawed dragon encircling a flaming pearl amongst cloud scrolls in the centre and surrounded by two striding five-clawed dragons around the rim, the exterior similarly incised with two striding five-clawed dragons each in pursuit of a flaming pearl, all covered with a rich egg-yolk-yellow glaze, wood stand. 

Provenance: a Scottish private collection and thence by descent

Note: The present lot speaks strongly of Imperial connotations. The sheer size of the dish is very striking, and the piece is quite possibly one of the largest known examples of yellow-glazed dishes - a related smaller example (40.6cm diam.) with a Kangxi mark and of the period, is illustrated in the Catalogue of a Special Exhibition, Ch'ing-Dynasty Monochrome Porcelains in the National Palace Museum, Taipei, 1981, p.63, pl.23. The sense of almost overwhelming size is emphasised by the gently curving sides rising to the plain lip, rather than being contained and finished by a flat rim, as in the example from the National Palace Museum.

The emphatic strength and presence of the large dish is further added to by the rich yellow monochromatic glaze, evenly applied and undisturbed by contrasting decoration, but instead it serves subtly to pick out the incised lines of the front-facing dragon; again, the single central dragon speaks of a strong united presence, in contrast to the pair of dragons competing for a single pearl on the Taipei dish. Yellow is instantly recognisable as the Imperial colour, as is the five-clawed dragon, again suggesting that this piece was intended for use by the Kangxi Emperor himself.

Bonhams. FINE CHINESE ART. London, New Bond Street, 15 May 2014