Christie's. Important Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art, 1 June 2011, Convention Hall
A fine green-enamelled 'dragon' jar, Qianlong six-character sealmark and of the period (1736-1795)
Lot 3997. A fine green-enamelled 'dragon' jar, Qianlong six-character sealmark and of the period (1736-1795); 7 7/8 in. (20 cm.) high. Estimate HKD 400,000 - HKD 600,000. Price Realized HKD 1,580,000. © Christie's Images Ltd. 2011
Painted and enamelled in green with two five-clawed dragons striding in pursuit of 'flaming pearls', amidst wispy clouds and between the Eight Buddhist Emblems,bajixiang, around the shoulder and a lotus petal band around the base, the cover decorated with a similarly enamelled dragon, Japanese wood box.
Provenance: A Japanese private collection
Note: Compare with published examples such as the covered jar illustrated in Chinese Ceramics - The S.C. Ko Tianminlou Collection, Hong Kong, 1987, pl. 114; and one in the National Palace Museum, Taipei, illustrated in Enamelled Ware of the Ch'ing Dynasty, Book II, CAFA, Hong Kong, 1969, pl. 13. Yongzheng and Jiaqing examples can be found in the Palace Museum, Beijing, illustrated in Miscellaneous Enamelled Porcelains, Plain Tricoloured Porcelains, The Complete Collection of Treasures of the Palace Museum, Shanghai, 2009, nos. 73 and 74.