Lot 3456. A rare blue-ground polychrome-decorated 'dragon' bowl, Qianlong six-character seal mark and of the period (1736-1795); 5 1/2 in. (14 cm.) diam. Estimate HKD 200,000 - HKD 300,000. Price Realized HKD 475,000. © Christie's Image Ltd 2014

The exterior is decorated with two dragons, one in green enamel, the other iron-red, racing through green, yellow and iron-red flames in pursuit of flaming pearls positioned above cruciform clouds, resting on a band of overlapping petals. The decoration is reserved on a ground of blue wash, with a further upright dragon medallion in green on the interior, box.

Provenance: Sold at Sotheby's Hong Kong, 1 December 1977, lot 648.

Note: A Kangxi-marked prototype bowl of this same pattern was included in the exhibition, Joined Colors: Decoration and Meaning in Chinese Porcelain, Ceramics from Collectors in the Min Chiu Society, Hong Kong, illustrated by L.A. Cort and J. Stuart, Catalogue, Hong Kong, 1993, p. 84, pl. 13. Qianlong-marked examples include a bowl sold at Christie's New York, 28 March 1996, lot 363 and another from the YC Chen Collection, sold at Christie's Hong Kong, 29 May 2013, lot 1924.

From the YC Chen Collection. A rare blue-ground polychrome-decorated 'dragon' bowl, Qianlong six-character seal mark and of the period (1736-1795); 5 1/2 in. (14 cm.) diam. Sold for 870,000 HKD at Christie's Hong Kong, 29 May 2013, lot 1924. © Christie's Image Ltd 2013

Cf. my post: A rare blue-ground polychrome-decorated 'dragon' bowl, Qianlong six-character seal mark and of the period (1736-1795)

Christie's. The Imperial Sale / Important Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art, Hong Kong, 28 May 2014