A fine and rare doucai blue-ground dragon bowl, Kangxi six-character mark and of the period (1662-1722)
Lot 347. A fine and rare doucai blue-ground dragon bowl, Kangxi six-character mark in underglaze blue within a double circle and of the period (1662-1722); 5½ in. (14 cm.) diam. Estimate USD 50,000 - USD 70,000. Price realised USD 60,000. © Christie's Images Ltd 2007
With deep rounded sides rising to a slightly everted rim, the exterior decorated with a green and an iron-red dragon shown racing through flames in pursuit of flaming pearls positioned above cruciform clouds, above a band of overlapping petal tips executed in outline, all reserved against a blue wash ground, with a similar green dragon roundel on the interior, box.
Note: A very similar Kangxi-marked bowl, also with dragons in doucai enamels on a blue ground, is illustrated in Chinese Porcelain: The S.C. Ko Tianminlou Collection, Part I, Hong Kong, 1987, no. 91, where the authors suggest that it was made early in the period and fired twice, following the Wanli period wucai technique, achieving doucai over underglaze blue. A pair of bowls of this design, from the collection of the British Rail Pension Fund, was sold at Sotheby's, Hong Kong, 16 May 1989, lot 79.
Two other similar bowls have been sold in our Hong Kong rooms, 4 November 1996, lot 801, and in our London rooms, 1 December 1997, lot 118.
Christie's. Fine Chinese Ceramics & Works of Art, New York, 22 March 2007