Lot 2936. A blue and white lobed 'dragon' basin, mark and period of Wanli (1573-1620); 34.5 cm., 13 1/2 in. Estimate 500,000 — 700,000 HKD. Lot sold 607,500 HKD  (49,355 EUR) (77,997 USD). Courtesy Sotheby's 2008.

strongly potted of cinquefoil section, finely painted overall in vivid tones of cobalt-blue, the interior floor with a ferocious five-clawed dragon in full-frontal position leaping in pursuit of a 'flaming pearl' amid leafy sprays of chrysanthemum, peony, crab apple, camellia and morning glory, the five gently lobed sides decorated with five dragons striding amid further floral scrolls, the rim similarly decorated with dragons chasing 'flaming pearls' amid floral scrolls, the exterior decorated on the sides with ten precious objects borne on a continuouslingzhi meander below a similar lingzhi scroll around the underside of the rim, the base unglazed save for a recessed medallion in the centre inscribed with the six-character mark within a double-circle.

Provenance: Sotheby's London, 7th June 1988, lot 225.
Christie's New York, 18th September 1997, lot 152.
Sotheby's London, 17th November 1999, lot 746.

Note: Compare a similar blue-and-white basin painted with dragons from the Chang Foundation illustrated in Selected Ceramics from Han to Qing Dynasties, Taipei, 1990, pl. 104; and another sold at Christie's Hong Kong, 7th July 2003, lot 651. Another blue-and-white five-lobed Wanli basin, the interior decorated with a mythical beast and other auspicious animals sold in our London rooms, 1/2nd April 1974, lot 204.    

A related Wanli blue-and-white basin of this form decorated with fish swimming amongst weeds is illustrated in Mayuyama Seventy Years, vol. 1, Tokyo, 1976, pl. 919 and another fish basin was exhibited in Ming Underglaze Blue and Wucai Ware, Osaka Fine Arts, Joint Trade Union, Osaka, 1963, cat.no. 29. 

Sotheby's. Fine Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art, Hong Kong, 11 Apr 2008