Lot 3585. A Large And Fine Yellow-Ground Green And Aubergine-Enamelled ‘Double Dragons’ Dish, Mark And Period Of Kangxi (1662-1722). H 23.7cm. Sold for HKD 648,000/USD 83,077 (Estimate HKD 420,000 - 680,000/USD 53,846 - 87,179). © Poly Auction Hong Kong Limited

The dish is finely potted with shallow rounded sides rising from a short tapered foot to a flat everted rim. The interior is centred with two dragons soaring around a flaming pearl amidst flaming wisps and ruyi clouds, encircled by floral sprigs on the cavetto, including prunus, lotus, chrysanthemum and peony. The exterior is similarly decorated with scaly dragons striding amidst flames and clouds in pursuit of flaming pearls. All patterns are rendered in green and aubergine enamels against a pale yellow ground. The white base is inscribed in underglaze blue with a six-character reign mark within a double circle.

This dish is applied with the su sancai enamelling technique, a Kangxi reinterpretation of Tang sancai. Su sancai required potters to incise the motifs directly onto the biscuit fired body which were then filled with finely painted black enamel; once the design was coloured with green, yellow and aubergine enamels, it was fired for a second time at a lower heat.

Provenance: 1. The Meiyintang Collection
2. Ralph M. Chait Galleries, New York.

Poly Auction. A Romance Among Blooming Roses: The Meiyintang Collection of Three Dynasties Imperial Ceramics,  Hong Kong, 2 December 2021