Lot 223. Rare white-glazed and carved 'dragon' jar, inscribed Run Yuan, late Yuan-early Ming dynasty; 35.5cm wide. Estimate £25,000 - £35,000. © Lyon & Turnbull

the globular body tapering to the foot, finely carved on the broad rounded shoulder with a crane and a deer against a wide lotus meander, the large flowers borne alternately upright and pendent on an undulating leafy stem, above two sinuous three-clawed dragons striding amongst crashing waves, the foot encircled by a band of lappets enclosing trefoils, applied overall apart from the base with a clear bluish tinged transparent qingbai glaze, inscribed 'Run Yuan' on the shoulder.

Provenance: Private London collection.

Note: For a similar white-glazed carved jar from Yuan Dynasty, 14th century, see Christie''s sale in their Hong Kong rooms on 01.12.2009, lot 1866, sale 2731.