Lot 2129. A fine wucai 'dragon and phoenix' bowl, Qianlong seal mark in underglaze blue and of the period (1736-1795); 5 7/8 in. (14.9 cm.) diam. Estimate USD 60,000 - USD 80,000. Price Realized USD 68,750. © Christie's Images Ltd 2014. 

The deep, rounded sides rise to a slightly everted rim and are decorated on the exterior with phoenixes descending between two dragons, in iron red and green glaze, shown striding amidst flower scroll below a narrow border of the bajixiang alternating with ruyi heads, all joined by a blue line. An iron-red dragon is shown leaping amidst green flames in pursuit of a flaming pearl within a double blue-ring border in the center of the interior, box.

Provenance: The Property of a Distinguished Collection; Sotheby's Hong Kong, 10 October 2010, lot 2690.

Note: A bowl of this pattern, with a Qianlong seal mark, in the Qing Court Collection, Beijing, is illustrated in The Complete Collection of Treasures of the Palace Museum - 38 - Porcelains in Polychrome and Contrasting Colours, Beijing, 1999, p. 148, no. 136. See, also, the Qianlong-marked example, of similar size, sold at Christie's New York, 22 March 2012, lot 2056.

Christie's. Fine Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art, New York, 20 - 21 March 2014