Lot 2914. A rare yellow-ground green-enamelled ‘dragon’ bowl, Yongzheng six-character mark in underglaze blue within a double circle and of the period (1723-1735); 6 5/8 in. (16.8 cm.) diam. Estimate HKD 500,000 - HKD 700,000 (USD 64,221 - USD 89,910). Unsold. © Christie's Images Ltd 2019

The thinly potted bowl is incised and decorated to the exterior in brilliant green enamels with two five-clawed dragons in pursuit of flaming pearls amidst clouds and above mountains emerging from crashing waves, against a deep iridescent yellow ground. The interior and base are covered with a clear glaze, box. 

Provenance: Sold at Christie’s Hong Kong, 23 March 1993, lot 770. 

Note: Bowls of such design are based on Ming prototypes which first saw the combination of yellow and green enamels, such as a Zhengde-marked yellow-ground green-enamelled stem bowl decorated with dragons from the Palace Museum, illustrated in Miscellaneous Enamelled Porcelains Plain Tricoloured Porcelains, The Complete Collection of Treasures of the Palace Museum, Shanghai, 2009, no. 83.

For related Yongzheng examples, compare to a bowl of identical size and design from the Meiyintang Collection, sold at Sotheby’s Hong Kong, 7 April 2011, lot 9; and one sold at Christie’s London, 15 June 1999, lot 94.

From the Meiyintang Collection. A fine and rare yellow-and-green 'dragon' bowl, mark and period of Yongzheng (1723-1735); 15 cm., 5 7/8 in. Sold for 2,420,000 HKD. Photo Sotheby's 2011

Cf. my post: A fine and rare yellow-and-green 'dragon' bowl, mark and period of Yongzheng (1723-1735)