A small molded 'Dragon' bowl, Transitional period, mid-17th century. Estimate $4,000 - $6,000. Price Realized $11,875 . Photo Christie's Image Ltd 2015

he small bowl, with steeply rounded sides and a gently flaring rim, is molded in the interior with two four-clawed dragons in pursuit of a flaming pearl above waves and a leaping carp in the center. All but the brown-dressed rim is covered in a blue-tinged glaze. 4 ½ in. (11.4 cm.) diam., silk box

Provenance: The Lord Cunliffe Collection, no. PM71.
Bluett & Sons, Ltd., London, 1987.
Collection of Julia and John Curtis.

Literature: 'Monochrome Porcelain of the Ming and Manchu Dynasties', Transactions of the Oriental Ceramic Society, London, 1948-49, Vol. 24, pl. 30, no. 218 (a pair).

Exhibited: Oriental Ceramic Society, London, Ming Porcelain of the Ming and Manchu Dynasties, 27 October-18 December 1948, no. 218.

Christie's. AN ERA OF INSPIRATION: 17TH-CENTURY CHINESE PORCELAINS FROM THE COLLECTION OF JULIA AND JOHN CURTIS, 16 March 2015, New York, Rockefeller Plaza