A rare blue-ground polychrome-decorated 'dragon' bowl, Qianlong six-character seal mark and of the period (1736-1795)

Lot 1924. A rare blue-ground polychrome-decorated 'dragon' bowl, Qianlong six-character seal mark and of the period (1736-1795); 5 1/2 in. (14 cm.) diam. Estimate HKD 200,000 - HKD 300,000. Price Realized HKD 870,000. © Christie's Image Ltd 2013

The exterior is decorated with two dragons, one in green enamel, the other iron-red, racing through green, yellow and iron-red flames in pursuit of 'flaming pearls' positioned above cruciform clouds, resting on a band of overlapping petals. The decoration is reserved on a ground of blue wash, with a further dragon medallion in green on the interior..

Note: A Kangxi-marked bowl of this same design was included in the exhibition, Joined Colors; Decoration and Meaning in Chinese Porcelain, Ceramics from Collectors in the Min Chiu Society, Hong Kong, illustrated by L.A. Cort and J. Stuart, Catalogue, Hong Kong, 1993, p. 84, pl. 13. Qianlong-marked bowls of this type are relatively rare. An example was sold at Christie's New York, 28 March 1996, lot 363.

Christie's. In Pursuit of Refinement - A Legacy of the YC Chen Collection, Hong Kong, 29 May 2013