Lot 58. A yellow-ground and green-enameled 'dragon' bowl, Wanli six-character mark and of the period  (1573-1620); 15.3cm diam; 9.2cm high; 6cm diam of foot. Sold for US$89,900 (Estimate US$25,000-35,000). © Bonhams 2001-2025

Raised on a high ring foot, painted with two dynamic five-claw dragons vying for the elusive 'flaming jewel', the sinewy dragons set against flaming clouds, their bodies rendered in green enamels against a pale-yellow ground, the interior well with a single flaming jewel in aubergine enamel under a double ring, the six-character Wanli mark within a double ring inside the foot.

Provenance: A Japanese Private Collection, 2003

Note: Dragon bowls with this combination of green against yellow with a Wanli mark are exceptionally rare, and belong to a small series of unusual bowls, some carved, with dragons and cloud scrolls reserved on a colored ground. The ground color and that of the dragon provide a sharp contrast, and the translucent glazes range from pale to thin yellow, green and aubergine. See an example in green and yellow sold at Bonhams, Hong Kong, 26 May 2007, lot 210; another in aubergine and yellow sold Christie's, Hong Kong, 28 November 2018, lot 2923.

Bonhams. Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art including the Francine and Bernard Wald Collection of Fine Snuff Bottles, Part. New York, 17 March 2025