the ovoid body rising to a short cylindrical neck, boldly painted with two striding five-clawed dragons in pursuit of 'flaming pearls' amongst scattered lingzhi-form clouds, all above a band of lappets at the foot and below the Eight Buddhist Emblems tied with ribbons enclosed between narrow bands of ruyi scroll and cloud motifs, the base with a six-character seal mark in underglaze blue. Height 7 7/8 in., 20.1 cm.
Note: Compare two similar Qianlong mark and period doucai 'dragon' jars of this design, the first, sold in our London rooms, 10th November 2004, lot 665, and the second in these rooms, 20th March 2002, lot 229, both with the addition of yellow enamel to the lappet band at the foot. Jars of this design continued to be produced during the Daoguang period, such as one example sold in our Hong Kong rooms, 23rd October 2005, lot 523.
Sotheby's. Important Chinese Art New York, 15 Mar 2017