An impressive blue and white plate decorated with a five toed blue dragon encircling a pearl sold for £427,250. 

EDINBURGH.- An impressive blue and white plate decorated with a five toed blue dragon encircling a pearl sold for £427,250 today 4th June 2014 at Lyon & Turnbull in Edinburgh, it came from a private Scottish collection, in Dumfriesshire, Scotland. The client's uncle was a prisoner-of-war in Japan during the second world war and following his release he stayed in Japan working his way up to become a successful businessman. He collected this and many other Chinese and Japanese works of art on his travels throughout Asia. Bringing them back to England in the 1950's when he set up home in Yorkshire and later Scotland. 

Lee Young Asian Specialist at Lyon & Turnbull said “This was a terrific result and is the highest price paid for Chinese porcelain of this kind in Scotland. The plate was one of a number of items found in Scotland by our experts, which all sold really well. The saleroom was busy and we had many telephone bidders from Europe, the USA and Asia, the sale made a total of over £1 million.” 

Large blue and white Ming Style 'Dragon' charger,  late 19th-20th century. 2014 © Copyright - Lyon & Turnbull 

the centre decorated with a coiling five-toed dragon encircling a flaming pearl and enclosed by a band with two further running dragons, all against a scrolling foliate field with lotus and chrysanthemum and a wave border, Qianlong seal mark to the underside but later  51cm diam  Estimate £3,000-5,000. Sold for £427,250 (premium inclusive)

Provenance: Private collection, Scotland. The client's uncle was a prisoner-of-war in Japan during the second war and follwing his release he stayed in Japan working his way to become a successful businessman. He collected this and many other Chinese and Japanese works of art on his travels throughout Asia. Bring them back to England in the 1950's when he set up home in Yorkshire and later Scotland.

Among the other items found in Scotland in the sale was a Chinese Imperial festive summer robe, belonging to an Empress, from the collection of a Glasgow shipping magnate, it sold for £73,250. The robe comes from the collection of Leonard Gow, the noted Glaswegian shipping magnate whose collection of Chinese porcelain was one of the most important in Britain in the first part of the 20th century. The piece was sold by the grand-daughter in law of Leonard Gow and upon hearing the news she said “I am absolutely thrilled to hear the result, I have had it hanging in my wardrobe with my clothes for years, just managing to stop the children chopping it up or wearing it as fancy dress! At Christmas when I heard that Lyon & Turnbull had sold a similar robe it inspired me to get in touch and I am so glad I did.” 

The robe is worked in gold and silver embroidery on a gold gauze ground, with standing waves at the hem and nine five-clawed dragons on the front, back and shoulder panels. Placed throughout the field of the robe are the twelve symbols indicating it was intended only for the emperor’s use. The robe is richly detailed and in near immaculate condition and provides a rare glimpse of the exquisite workmanship of Qing dynasty imperial textiles. 

Rare Dowager Empress Cixi Imperial Twelve-Symbol Festive Summer 'Dragon' Robe (Longpao), Late Qing Dynasty. 2014 © Copyright - Lyon & Turnbull 

worked in gold and silver metallic thread on a gold gauze ground, embroidered with the Twelve Symbols of Imperial Authority and nine five-clawed dragons above blue standing waves at the hem, the gold silk and black gauze sleeves ending in embroidered horseshoe cuffs, with gold silk lining Estimate £15,000-25,000 - Sold for £73,250 

Provenance: Collection of Leonard Gow, Glasgow, acquired early 20th century 
Thence by family descent 

Note: The Twelve Symbols of Imperial Authority were rooted in ancient customs and their origination is unclear. Each symbol had a specific meaning and when appearing together represented the emperor's authority and unquestionable sovereignty. They are the Sun, Moon, Constellation, fu symbol, Dragon, Axe-head, Flowery Creature, Sacrificial Vessels, Water Plant, Flames, Grain, and Rock. Their placement on imperial robes was strictly regulated as established by the Qianlong emperor in the 18th century. While some members of the imperial family were allowed to wear garments embroidered with combinations of the Twelve Symbols, only the Emperor wore garments displaying all of them. This strict adherence to custom relaxed towards the end of the Qing Dynasty, and it is known that the Empress Dowager Cixi, who named herself regent and essentially ruled China during the Tongzhi and Guangxu Emperor's reigns, wore robes bearing the twelve symbols. It can be assumed that the present lot, which is a woman's robe, was designed for her use. 

Literature: See Gary Dickinson & Linda Wrigglesworth, Imperial Wardrobe, Ten Speed Press, Berkeley, California, 2000; Wilson Ming, Imperial Chinese Robes, V&A Publishing, London, 2010. 

An unusual flambé Glazed bottle vase with a glaze showing maroon red with streaks of purple and a splash of sky blue near the base, which came from the Walker Art Center, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA, it was sold by a prominent Philadelphia collection for £181,250. 

Fine Flambe Glazed Bottle Vase, Yuhuchun, Qianlong Impressed Seal Mark and of the Period. 2014 © Copyright - Lyon & Turnbull 

glaze showing maroon red with streaks of purple and a splash of sky blue near the base, the recessed caramel-brown glazed base with an incised mark;31cm high. Estimate: Available upon request. Sold for £181,250 (premium inclusive)

Provenance: Deaccessioned from the Walker Art Center, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA 
From a prominent Philadelphia collection 

The sale made a total of £1,009,105 including buyer’s premium.