Lot 548. A wucai 'dragon' bowl, Mark and period of Wanli (1573-1620);  18 cm., 7 1/8  in. Estimate 80,000 — 120,000 HKD. Lot sold 125,000 HKD. Photo Sotheby's.

decorated around the exterior with four multi-coloured five-clawed dragons writhing above tempestuous waves, alternating with other mythical creatures including conches and horses, their scaly body emitting red flames against a blue ground, all set between a blue and red floral band around the rim and a border of precious objects encircling the foot, the interior similarly decorated with a blue en face dragon within a red-ground medallion, the base inscribed in underglaze blue with a six-character reign mark within a double-circle.

Provenance: A private Japanese collection.

Sotheby's. Chinese Art. Hong Kong, 01 Jun 2015, 03:15 PM