Lot 2577. A large iron-red 'dragon' charger, Guangxu Period, Cuixiugong Mark; 63.5cm., 25in. Estimate 100,000 — 150,000 HKD. Lot Sold 620,000 HKD. Photo Sotheby's 2008

the interior finely painted in dark iron-red in the centre with a large five-clawed full-frontal dragon encircling a flaming pearl, bordered on the cavetto and exterior with four sinuous dragons in profile, each chasing a flaming pearl, the base inscribed in underglaze blue with the characters 'cui xiu gong zhi'.

Provenance: Private collection formed in the 1950s.

Note: The Chuxiugong (Palace of Gathering Elegance) is one of the six Western palaces in the Forbidden City, favoured by the Empress Dowager Cixi (b.1835-1908) and her chief residence between 1856-1885. Cixi had the palace lavishly refurbished on her 50th birthday in 1884. Compare also, a massive yellow-ground dragon dish with similar mark, sold Sotheby's London, 19 June 2002, lot 70. See also a large blue and white charger sold in our New York rooms 23rd March 2004, lot 651.

The ceramic wares made for the Chuxiugong were often large and monumental. According to Ronald W. Longsdorf in his article "The Tongzhi Imperial Wedding Porcelain", Orientations, October 1996, pp. 69-78, these wares were also largely based on Kangxi period prototypes. These wares also bear Chuxiugong zhi marks inscribed in a bold archaic script.

Sotheby's. Fine Chinese Ceramics & Works of Art. 08 Oct 08. Hong Kong