Lot 131. A rare polychrome-enameled 'dragon' cup, Mark and period of Jiajing (1522-1566). Diameter 6.8 cm. Estimate 8,000 - 10,000 USD. Lot Sold 42,000 USD. © Sotheby's.

the base with a six-character mark in underglaze blue within a double rectangle, Japanese wood box (3)

Provenance: Japanese Private Collection.

Note: The present cup is rare on account of its yellow-enameled interior. Compare a few related Jiajing cups, similarly decorated with dragons but without the yellow enamel to the inside: the first with red and yellow enamel, in the collection of National Palace Museum, Taipei, illustrated on the Museum's website (accession no. 故瓷002425N000000000); another in iron-red and underglaze blue, sold in our Hong Kong rooms, 7th October 2009, lot 1617; additionally, see a polychrome-enameled example with slightly different motif, sold in the same rooms, 8th October 2014, lot 3701. 

Sotheby's. Chinese Art, New York, 18 September 2024