Lot 3401. A very rare Longquan celadon 'dragon' charger, Yuan dynasty (1279-1368); 16 1/4 in. (41.2 cm.) diam. Estimate HKD 800,000 - HKD 1,200,000. Price Realized HKD 1,360,000. © Christie's Image Ltd 2014.

The charger is sturdily potted with thick, deep, sides rising from a low foot ring to a broad mouth rim. The interior is finely incised with a five-clawed descending dragon amidst sprays of ruyi clouds, surrounded by scrolling lotus flowers growing on undulating vine at the cavetto, below the slightly sloping mouth rim decorated with crested waves. The charge is covered in a glaze of characteristic sea-green tone reserving a unglazed circular ring turned orange on the underside base, Japanese wood box.

Provenance: Hirano Kotoken, Osaka, circa 1970s
Japanese private collector, acquired in the 1970s and thence by descent to the present owner.

Note: Longquan celadon chargers of this size with dragon designs are very rare. An almost identical charger of this large size is in the Percival David Foundation, illustrated by G. Gompertz, Chinese Celadon Wares, London, 1958, no. 92. Another similar example was sold at Christie's Hong Kong, 3 December 2008, lot 2537. Slightly smaller dishes, measuring 34 cm. diam., of this same pattern are known: the first was sold at Christie's New York, 22 March 1999, lot 277 and the other sold at Christie's Hong Kong, 30 May 2005, lot 1447.