A rare doucai 'dragon' moonflask, bianhu, 19th century. Estimate HK$100,000 - 150,000 (€12,000 - 18,000). Photo: Bonhams.

The flattened globular body rising from a short splayed foot to a waisted gourd-shaped neck flanked by a pair of curved ruyi handles, each side vividly painted and enamelled with a roaring front-facing five-clawed dragon writhing amidst undulating cloud scrolls between two bats hovering around the foot and a stylised shou character on each side of the neck. 19cm (7 1/2in) high

Provenance: An important European private collection

Notes: This boldly and confidently painted and enamelled moonflask is a rare example of a design less commonly found on pieces applied with the doucai decorative technique.

The shape of this vessel is well known from the larger blue and white flasks dating to the early Ming dynasty. The cloud scrolls are closely associated with lingzhi, the fungus of immortality, or the ruyi, which translates as 'as you wish'. Hence, the imperial emblem of the five-clawed dragon surrounded by extensive clouds makes the present lot especially auspicious. When combined with the bats and the shou characters, the vase represents the auspicious wishes for good fortune and longevity.

A related iron-red and underglaze-blue 'dragon' moonflask, 19th century, is in the Philadelphia Museum of Art, museum no.1919-229. 

Compare a very similar example of an iron-red and underglaze-blue 'dragon' moonflask, Qianlong seal mark, 19th century, sold at Christie's London, 5 November 2013, lot 464; see also another iron-red and underglaze-blue moonflask, Qianlong seal mark and of the period, sold at Sotheby's Hong Kong, 9 October 2012, lot 3105.

Bonhams. EXCEPTIONAL CHINESE ART FROM A EUROPEAN PRIVATE COLLECTION, 3 Dec 2015 10:30 HKT - HONG KONG, ADMIRALTY