A rare small blue and white double-gourd 'dragon' vase, Mark and period of Jiajing (1522-1566)

Lot 3168. A rare small blue and white double-gourd 'dragon' vase. Mark and period of Jiajing (1522-1566); 10.8 cm., 4 1/4 in. Estimate 400,000-600,000 HKD (39,143 — 58,715 EUR). Lot sold 920,000 HKD (90,029 EUR). Photo Sotheby's

each bulb painted in deep cobalt-blue tones with four medallions of five-clawed dragons writhing amidst clouds reserved on a diaper pattern ground, separated by a white band at the waist, the slightly recessed base inscribed with the six-character reign mark in underglaze blue. 

PROVENANCE: Bluett & Sons, London, 29th June 1990.

NOTE: Only two other Jiajing double-gourd vases with similar decoration in underglaze blue appears to have been published. One in Margaret Medley, Illustrated Catalogue of Underglaze-blue and Copper-red, London, 1976, cat. no. 611, in the Sir Percival David Collection in the British Museum, London. The second one was offered in these rooms 4th November 1997, lot 1407.

Gourd shaped vase with dragons, Ming dynasty, Jiajing mark and period, AD 1522–1566. Porcelain decorated in underglaze cobalt blue, Jingdezhen, Jiangxi province. On loan of Sir Percival David Foundation of Chinese Art, PDF.611. © Trustees of the British Museum

Height: 105 millimetres. This gourd shaped bottle is decorated with dragons against a honey comb pattern. The base carries a six character Jiajing reign mark.

Double gourd shaped porcelain vase with low foot rim formed from a recessed base. There are four repeated dragon medallions against a honeycomb diaper background in underglaze colbalt blue on the exterior. There is an 'F' mark on the base.

Sotheby's. Fine Chinese Ceramics & Works of Art. Hong Kong | 04 avr. 2012