Lot 2161. A rare iron-red blue and white 'dragon' bowl, Kangxi six-character mark in underglaze blue within a double circle and of the period (1662-1722); 7 1/8 in. (18 cm.) diam. Estimate USD 60,000 - USD 80,000. Price Realized USD 75,000. © Christie's Images Ltd 2014. 

The bowl is well potted with deep, rounded sides and is supported on a thick foot encircled by double lines. The exterior is finely decorated with three five-clawed, scaly dragons leaping amidst flames and swirling underglaze blue clouds. The interior is similarly decorated with a medallion containing a sinuous dragon and flaming pearl.

Note: A Kangxi mark-and-period bowl of the same design in the Palace Museum, Beijing, is illustrated in The Complete Collection of Treasures of the Palace Museum - Miscellaneous Enamelled Porcelains, Plain Tricoloured Porcelains, Hong Kong, 2009, p. 186, no. 147.

A very similarly rendered iron-red dragon can also be seen on the Kangxi-marked jar and cover, painted with a dragon and phoenix, in the Qing Court Collection in Beijing, illustrated in The Complete Collection of Treasures of the Palace Museum - 38 - Porcelains in Polychrome and Contrasting Colors, Hong Kong, 1999, p. 227, no. 208. Compare, also, the polychrome-decorated Kangxi-marked 'dragon' bowl illustrated, ibid., p. 165, no. 151.

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