A rare pair of large iron-red and underglaze blue ‘dragon’ deep bowls, Kangxi marks and period (1662-1722)
Lot 3005. A rare pair of large iron-red and underglaze blue ‘dragon’ deep bowls, Kangxi six-character marks in underglaze blue within double circles and of the period (1662-1722); 7 3/8 in. (18.7 cm.) diam. Estimate 600,000 — 800,000 HKD. Price realised HKD 937,500. © Christie's Images Ltd 2017
The bowls are each decorated to the entre with a roundel enclosing an iron-red five clawed dragon amongst underglaze blue cloud scrolls and waves. The exterior of the bowl is decorated with nine dragons in various positions, each with a trailing fire scroll all on a ground of foaming crescent waves. The rim is decorated with a band of interlocking pierced cash symbols, Japanese wood boxes.
Provenance: A Japanese private collection acquired in Tokyo in the last 20 years
Note: Compare a very similar bowl of the same size in the Palace Museum Collection, Beijing, illustrated in Miscellaneous Enamelled Porcelains Plain Tricolour Porcelains, The Complete Collection of Treasures in the Palace Museum, Shanghai, 2009, pp. 184-185, pl. 146.
Several similar bowls have been sold at auction, including a pair of bowls at Sotheby’s Hong Kong, 5 April 2017, lot 3678; and two single bowls also at Sotheby’s Hong Kong, one on 30 October 2002, lot 289, and the other on 25 April 2004, lot 306.
A pair of iron-red and underglaze-blue 'dragon' bowls , marks and period of Kangxi (1662-1722), 18.8 cm, 7 3/8 in. Sold for 2,000,000 HKD at Sotheby’s Hong Kong, 5 April 2017, lot 3678. Photo: Sotheby's.
Cf. my post: A pair of iron-red and underglaze-blue 'dragon' bowls , marks and period of Kangxi (1662-1722)
A fine blue and white and iron-red 'dragon' bowl, Mark and period of Kangxi, 19 cm., 7 1/2 in. Sold for 180,000 HKD at Sotheby’s Hong Kong, 25 April 2004, lot 306. Photo: Sotheby's.
Christie's. Important Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art, 29 November 2017, Hong Kong