Lot 2117. A rare copper-red decorated 'Dragon' vase, Kangxi six-character mark and of the period (1662-1722); 8 1/4 in. (21 cm.) high. Estimate HKD 700,000 - HKD 900,000. Price realised HKD 3,140,000. © Christie's Images Ltd 2012 

The vase is finely potted with an ovoid body and a rounded shoulder rising to a tall cylindrical neck encircled with a stylised sinuous dragon. The dragon with three sharp claws has the scales detailed in pale red with mottled areas of green. The dragon's eyes are highlighted in underglaze-blue, wood stand.

Provenance: Richard Bennett Collection, Thornby Hall, Northampton (b. 1849)
J. Insley Blair (1870-1939) and thence by descent to the present owners 

Literature: The J. Insley Blair Collection of Chinese Porcelain, Tuxedo Park, New York, 1925, pl. 1, no. 103

This vase appears to be one of two unique examples among a small group of Kangxi-marked copper-red dragon wares. A high-shouldered vase with a similar vigorous dragon and comparable size (22.2 cm. high) in the Percival David Foundation of Chinese Art is illustrated by R. Scott ed., Chinese Copper Red Wares, London, 1992, pl. 16. Compare also to examples of similar form and size but with an underglaze-blue and copper-red design of a dragon above waves such as the vase sold at Christie's London, 8 November 2011, lot 383.

The present lot is particularly effective in demonstrating the effects of the varying densities of the copper-red pigment, from dark red, red to green.  

Christie's. Important Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art, 28 November 2012, Hong Kong