Lot 571. A blue and white 'dragon and lingzhi' dish, Wanli six-character mark and of the period (1573-1620); 17.7cm (7in) diam. Estimate: £3,000 - £5,000. Sold for £ 17,750 (€ 20,709). © Bonhams 2001-2021

With shallow rounded sides rising from a short slightly tapered foot to a flared edge, the interior symmetrically spaced with three lingzhi clouds scrolls within a double circle, the exterior with two striding five-clawed dragons in mutual pursuit of flaming pearls amid clouds, Japanese wood box.

Published, Illustrated and Exhibited: Roger Keverne Ltd., Summer Exhibition, London, 2013, no.32.

Note: Similar dishes were produced throughout the whole Ming dynasty. See a related Xuande example illustrated by J.Harrison-Hall, Ming Ceramics in the British Museum, London, pp.137-138, nos.4:34 and 4:35; see another example illustrated by J.G.Lee, An Exhibition of Blue-Decorated Porcelain of the Ming Dynasty at the Philadelphia Museum of Art, Philadelphia, no.65; for later Hongzhi example, see Emerald-like blue hue Rises: Chinese Ceramics donated by the K.S.Lo Foundation, Hong Kong, 1995, pp.68-69; and for Zhengde examples, see Gems of Chinese Art: Selections of Ceramics and Bronzes from the Tsui Art Foundation, Hong Kong, 1992, no.82; and another example illustrated by R.Krahl, Chinese Ceramics from the Meiyintang Collection, vol.II, London, no.687.

Compare with a similar blue and white 'three-clouds and dragon' dish, Wanli mark and of the period, which was sold at Sotheby's Hong Kong, 27 May 2014, lot 609.

Bonhams. Roger Keverne Ltd Moving On (Part II), London, New Bond Street, 7 June 2021