Lot 169. A fine yellow-enamelled blue-ground 'dragon' bowl, Guangxu six-character mark and of the period (1875-1908); 10.3cm diam. Estimate HK$30,000 - 50,000. Sold for HK$ 112,500 (€10,664). Photo:Bonhams.

The exterior with a pair of dragons in flight in pursuit of flaming pearls amidst flames and lightning clouds, the interior with a central dragon medallion, all vividly enamelled in bright yellow on a strong blue ground, the base with an Imperial six-character kaishu mark. 

Provenance : Dr Simon Kwan Collection, Hong Kong
Christie's Singapore, The Yangzhitang Collection of Imperial Porcelain of the Late Qing Dynasty, 30 March 1997, lot 348

Exhibited : The Art Gallery, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Imperial Porcelain of Late Qing from the Simon Kwan Collection, 13 August - 25 September 1983
The National Museum of History, Taipei, Imperial Porcelain of the Late Qing from the Simon Kwan Collection, 1985

Illustrated :Imperial Porcelain of Late Qing from the Simon Kwan Collection, Hong Kong, p.113, pl.110

Note: While there was a general decline in the output and the quality of porcelains from the Imperial kilns towards to the late Qing dynasty, the Emperors of the later Qing Dynasty, including Guangxu selected a few favoured well-known shapes and designs that were produced in the earlier Kangxi, Yongzheng and Qianlong periods, to be produced under strict scrutiny. The present is one such piece, deriving from earlier Kangxi bowls of fierce dragons enameled in yellow on a blue ground. Related Kangxi mark and of the period bowls have been sold at auction, including one at Christie's London, 8 November 2011, lot 316; another pair sold in Christie's Hong Kong, 1 May 1995, lot 650.

Bonhams. FINE CHINESE CERAMICS AND WORKS OF ART, Hong Kong, Admiralty, 26 May 2014