A rare yellow-ground 'Green dragon' deep bowl, Encircled Zhengde four-character mark and of the period (1506-1521)

Lot 97. A rare yellow-ground 'Green dragon' deep bowl, Encircled Zhengde four-character mark and of the period (1506-1521); 5 in. (15 cm.) diam. Estimate GBP 15,000 - GBP 20,000. Price realised GBP 26,450. © Christie’s Images Limited 1998

Thickly potted with steep sides and a flaring rim, enamelled with a warm golden-yellow ground with two dragons in mutual pursuit among clouds incised and picked out in pale green, above a lappet-band around the foot rim, rim cracks, fitted box.

Note: The green enamel dragon on a yellow ground was a frequently used design during the Zhengde period, but the present form is very rare. The design was more frequently used on dishes and leys jars, zhadou. Another example of a bowl of this form, from the Palmer Collection, was included in the Oriental Ceramic Society 1957 exhibition, The Arts of the Ming Dynasty, Catalogue no.196.