A GREEN ENAMELLED 'DRAGON' DISH MARK AND PERIOD OF ZHENGDE

the low rounded sides rising from a short foot, finely carved in the biscuit and enamelled a bright translucent green, the interior with a sinuous five-clawed dragon prancing amid clouds and flames, the exterior decorated with two further dragons against a ground of finely incised foaming waves, the base inscribed with the six-character mark within double circles

The Leshantang Collection of Chinese Porcelain, Taipei, 2005, cat.no. 18.

The dish is in very good condition overall, with the exception of slight rubbing to the green enamel concentrated to the interior.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

Two Zhengde dishes of this size and design, in the Percival David Foundation, London, are included in Margaret Medley, Illustrated Catalogue of Ming Polychrome Wares, Section 5, London, 1966, cat. nos. A725 and A726; and three others, in the British Museum, London, are illustrated in Jessica Harrison-Hall, Ming Ceramics, London, 2001, pl. 8:33, 8:34 and 8:35. Compare also one from the Palmer collection, included in the exhibition Polychrome Porcelain of the Ming Dynasty, Oriental Ceramic Society, London, 1950, cat. no. 77, sold in our London rooms, 27^th November 1962, lot 18l; and another sold in our New York rooms, 24^th March 1998, lot 605. A slightly larger Zhengde 'green dragon' dish, in the Shanghai Museum, is illustrated in Zhongguo taoci quanji, vol. 13, Shanghai, 2000, pl. 144.

Compare a Zhengde dish of this design and size, illustrated together with a Hongzhi version of the same design in Regina Krahl, Chinese Ceramics from the Meiyintang Collection, London, 1994, vol.2, nos.693 and 694.  See also a slightly larger Zhengde dish of this design included in the Special Exhibition Chinese Ceramics, Tokyo National Museum, Tokyo, 1994, cat.no.262; and another in the collection of the Guangdong Provincial Museum published in Guangdong Sheng Bowuguan cang taoci xuan, Beijing, 1992, pl.126.