Lot 3733. A pair of iron-red and underglaze-blue 'Dragon' bowls, Marks and period of Wanli (1573-1620), 12.2 cm, 4 7/8  in. Estimate HKD 400,000 — 600,000. Price realised HKD 900,000 . © Christie's Images Ltd 2017 

each with shallow rounded sides resting on a tapered foot, the interior with a domed central medallion painted in iron red with a five-clawed dragon in profile, writhing amongst scrolling clouds above underglaze-blue turbulent waves cresting with foams, all within a double-line border repeated at the rim, the exterior similarly decorated with eight further dragons in various poses above waves, inscribed to the base with a six-character reign mark within a double circle.

Note: Compare a similar pair exhibited in Chugoku meito ten: Chugoku toji 2000-nen no seika [Exhibition of Chinese pottery: two thousand years of Chinese ceramics], Tokyo, 1992, cat. no. 95.