Lot 3155. A wucai 'dragon and phoenix' bowl, Daoguang six-character seal mark in underglaze blue and of the period (1821-1850); 6 1/8 in. (15.5 cm.) diam. Estimate USD 15,000 - USD 25,000. Price realised USD 32,500. © Christie's Image Ltd 2015

The bowl has deep, rounded sides flaring slightly to the rim, and the exterior is painted with two phoenixes descending between green and iron-red dragons pursuing flaming pearls amidst flower sprigs, below a band of Buddhist Emblems alternating with ruyi heads joined by a blue line. The interior is decorated with an iron-red dragon leaping in pursuit of a flaming pearl, all within underglaze blue single and double-line borders.

Note: A pair of bowls of this pattern was included in the exhibition, The Wonders of the Potter's Palette, Qing Ceramics from the Collection of the Hong Kong Museum of Art, Hong Kong, 1984, no. 100; and a single example from the Simon Kwan Collection was included in the exhibition, Imperial Porcelain of Late Qing, Chinese University of Hong Kong, 1983, no. 44.

Christie's. FINE CHINESE CERAMICS AND WORKS OF ART, 15 - 16 March 2015, New York, Rockefeller Plaza