Lot 1713. A very large doucai pear-shaped vase, 18th-19th century; 25 3/8 in. (64.5 cm.) high. Estimate USD 30,000 - USD 50,000. Price realised USD 80,500. © Christie's Images Ltd 2011

Painted on two sides of the bulbous body with a dragon leaping amidst clouds in pursuit of a flaming pearl, one in iron red, the other green, above a band of frothing waves which break in explosions of spray against rocks, the neck with a band of phoenixes in flight amidst ruyi-shaped clouds and a band of four shou characters separated by lingzhisprays and clouds, all within borders of archaistic dragon scroll, with a pair of blue and yellow mask handles suspending fixed rings on the shoulder, raised on a tall foot encircled by a further wave and rocks band interrupted by an apocryphal Jiajing mark within a rectangle.

Provenance: Cleveland Museum of Art.

Note: One of a pair of bowls with similar decoration is illustrated in Qing Imperial Porcelain of the Kangxi, Yongzheng, and Qianlong Reigns, Hong Kong, 1995, pl. 52.

Christie's. Fine Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art Part I and Part II Including Property from the Arthur M. Sackler Collections, New York, 24 March 2011