Lot 133. A rare Imperial blue and white 'dragon' bowl, Kangxi six-character mark and of the period (1662-1722); 15.8cm (6 2/9in) diam. Estimate: HK$500,000 - HK$800,000. Sold for HK$ 813,125 (€ 92,569) inc. premium. © Bonhams 2001-2019

With deep rounded sides gently rising from a slightly tapered foot to the rim, the exterior vividly painted with two five-clawed dragons striding amidst flame scrolls in pursuit of the flaming pearl, the interior plain, the base with a six-character mark in standard script within a double circle, box.

Provenance: S. Marchant & Son, Exhibition of Chinese Blue and White - Wan Li to K'ang Hsi, London, 13-15 July 1980, no.21
A distinguished English private collection, and thence by descent

Note: The present bowl is remarkable for the style of painting of the five-clawed dragons, taking the entire space of the bowl, uninterrupted by clouds as more typically seen. A similar style of painting can be seen on a blue and white meiping vase, Kangxi mark and period, which was sold at Christie's Hong Kong, 28 November 2006, lot 1317. 

A very similar blue and white 'dragon' bowl, Kangxi mark and period, is in the Victoria and Albert Museum, London (acc.no.110A-1883). Two very similar blue and white 'dragon' bowls, Kangxi marks and period, are illustrated in Encompassing Precious Beauty: The Songzhutang Collection of Imperial Chinese Ceramics, Hong Kong, 2016, pp.60-63, nos.19 and 20, acquired at Sotheby's Hong Kong, 28 April 1998, lots 773 and 772, respectively.