7 – M4919
Description
Chinese imperial porcelain iron-red dragon bowl, wan, thinly potted with gently rising upright sides on a short foot rim, painted with two five-clawed iron-red enamel dragons each in pursuit of a flaming pearl amongst ruyi-clouds and flames, the dragons’ eyes heightened in black enamel, the interior glazed white.
The base with a six-character mark of Kangxi within a double ring in underglaze blue and of the period, 1662-1722.
6 3/16 inches, 15.7 cm diameter.
Provenance & Additional Information
- From the collection of R. I. C. Herridge, Esq.
- Sold by Sotheby’s Hong Kong in their auction of Important Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art, 28th November 1978, lot 356, 284/5, colour illustration opposite.
- Sold by Marchant 3rd August 1979.
- A distinguished English private collection, Holland Park, London, and thence by descent.
- Sold by Bonhams Hong Kong in their auction of Fine Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art, 28th May 2019, lot 134, 64/5.
- A similar example in the Palace Museum, Beijing is illustrated in Miscellaneous Enamelled Porcelains and Plain Tricoloured Porcelains, The Complete Collection of Treasures of the Palace Museum, Hong Kong, 2009, no. 12.
- The flaming or wish-granting pearl, baozhu, is one of the Eight Treasures, babao, and is a symbol of wealth. The dragon’s pursuit of it also symbolises the emperor’s wish for longevity.
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