Lot 193. A rare blue and white 'dragon' garden seat, Second half 16th century; 35.6cm (14in) high. Estimate £30,000-50,000. Sold for £37,500 (€ 41,966). Photo Bonhams.

Of barrel shape applied with a pair of lion-mask handles, vividly painted to each side with a five-clawed winged dragon striding amongst scrolling clouds in pursuit of the flaming pearl above foaming waves and bordered by applied bosses, all beneath a band of ruyi-shaped cartouches containing horses galloping across flaming scrolls, the panel top decorated with four crouching Buddhist lions on scrolling ribbons issuing precious objects.

Provenance: a distinguished European private collection.

Note: Compare with a similar Wanli period blue and white porcelain stool, decorated with dragons and cloud patterns from Qing Court Collection, illustrated in The Complete Collection of Treasures of the Palace Museum: Furniture of the Ming and Qing Dynasties (I), Hong Kong, 2002, p.71, no.56. For a related Jiajing period drum stool, but decorated with cranes, see Enlightening Elegance: Imperial Porcelain of the Mid to Late Ming, The Huaihaitang Collection, Hong Kong, 2012, pp.152-3.

Bonhams. FINE CHINESE ART, London, 14 May 2015