Lot 3667. A wucai 'Dragon' dish, Mark and period of Wanli (1573-1619);  33.6 cm., 13 1/4  in. Estimate 400,000 — 600,000 HKD (45,982 — 68,974 EUR). Lot sold 1,000,000 HKD (114,956 EUR). Photo Sotheby's.

the shallow rounded sides resting on a short tapered foot, the interior decorated with a large medallion enclosing a pair of scaly five-clawed dragons writhing sinuously around a 'flaming pearl' in the centre amidst flames and ruyi-shaped clouds, one dragon depicted with red scales and green fins, the other with blue scales and red fins, all surrounded by two pairs of confronting dragons in mutual pursuit of 'flaming pearls' amidst stylised flames and cloud scrolls, the underside decorated with eight large lotus blooms borne on meandering leafy scrolls, all vividly picked out in bold tones of the wucai palette, the base inscribed in underglaze blue with a six-character reign mark within a double-circle, Japanese wood box inscribed by Fujio Koyama.

Provenance: A private Japanese collection, prior to 1975.

Sotheby's. Important Chinese Art, Hong Kong, 07 oct. 2015, 02:30 PM