A massive blue and white 'dragon' fish bowl. Jiajing six-character mark and of the period

Heavily potted, the wide deep sides finely painted around the exterior in rich violet-blue with two large five-clawed dragons striding in pursuit of a flaming pearl amongst scrolling lotus, all within double-line borders, the reign mark written in a horizontal line below the rim (cracks and some restoration to the rim). 56.5cm (22¼in) diam. Sold for £45,600

Footnote: The large size of these dragon fish bowls made them particularly difficult to manufacture and required up to nine days of firing; see R. L. Hobson, The Wares of the Ming Dynasty, London, 1923, pp.19 and 110 where a related example is illustrated.

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Bonhams. Fine Chinese Art, 6 Nov 2008. New Bond Street www.bonhams.com