Lot 1389. A rare Ming white-glazed and biscuit-decorated 'Dragon' bowl, Hongzhi six-character mark within double-circles and of the period (1488-1505); 6 1/2 in. (16.5 cm.) diam. Estimate HKD 150,000 - HKD 200,000. Price realised HKD 180,000. © Christie's Images Ltd 2006.

The interior with a central roundel decorated with a five-clawed dragon reserved on biscuit, and the exterior sides similarly decorated with two further dragons striding amidst incised crested waves above a band of pointed rocks, box.

Note: White monochrome wares with biscuit decoration were produced during the Chenghua, Hongzhi and Zhengde reigns. The biscuit-reserved areas were incised to the unbaked body and covered with a layer of wax prior to applying the glaze. During firing the wax would melt leaving behind the incised design in slightly buff-coloured biscuit.

Several dishes of this design are known, but bowls are much rarer. An identical bowl is illustrated by J. Ayers, The Baur Collection, vol. 1, Geneva, 1999, pl. 68. Cf. the dishes in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, illustrated by S. Valenstein, A Handbook of Chinese Ceramics, New York, 1989, no. 155; and in the British Museum, illustrated by J. Harrison-Hall, Ming Ceramics, London, 2001, pl. 7:3. 

Christie's. Important Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art, Hong Kong, 30 May 2006