Lot 33. A rare pair of underglaze blue and gilt-decorated kinrande 'chilong' bowls, Jiajing six-character marks in underglaze blue and of the period (1522-1566); 4 ¾ in. (12.1 cm.). Estimate GBP 6,000 - GBP 8,000. Price realised GBP 7,500. © Christie's Images Ltd 2020.

Each bowl is decorated to the exterior with two pairs of confronting chilong, one in underglaze blue, the other in reserve with iron-red enamel highlights, interspersed with underglaze blue sprigs of lingzhi fungus and with traces of a leafy scroll gilt decoration below the rim. The interiors are decorated with a central medallion enclosing a coiled chilong below a band of iron-red and pale green enamel geometric design below the rim.

Provenance: Private Japanese Collection.

Note: Bowls of this design bearing a Jiajing mark would appear to be very rare. A bowl decorated with peaches and bearing a Jiajing mark is illustrated by Mayuyama in Seventy Years, Volume One, p.280, no. 839.