A LOBED WUCAI 'DRAGON' BASIN MARK AND PERIOD OF WANLI

sturdily potted of cinquefoil section, finely painted overall in vivid tones of cobalt-blue, the interior floor with a ferocious five-clawed dragon in full-frontal position leaping in pursuit of a 'flaming pearl' amid leafy flower sprays including chrysanthemum, peony, crab apple, lily, and x, the five gently lobed sides decorated with five dragons striding amid dense floral scrolls, the rim similarly decorated with dragons chasing 'flaming pearls' amid floral scrolls, the exterior decorated on the sides with ten precious objects borne on a continuous lingzhi meander below a similar lingzhi scroll around the underside of the rim, the base unglazed save for a recessed medallion in the centre inscribed with the six-character mark within a double-circle 

The Jingguantang Collection.
Christie's New York, 20th March 1997, lot 89.

The interior 's cobalt-blue is very vibrant. There is loss to the enamel in scattered areas of the well. One section above the dragon's proper left arm with glaze pull resulting in surface bumpiness. The everted rim also has approximately four small sections of glaze pull. There is some wear to the brown enamel at the cavetto and very minor fritting at the lobes on the rim. The exterior enamels are dry, with some areas showing degradation on the green enamel. The underside of the rim has approximately four parallel hairline cracks, the longest around 10 cm. The exterior with minor scattered pinholes. The colors are slightly less saturated than the catalogue image suggests.
"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."

The present basin appears to be rare in its combination of pentafoil sides and painted with a single dragon to the centre.  Other designs of this form include a phoenix and a dragon, fish swimming amongst weeds, and a single qilin dragon, and are also found with barbed rims, hexagonal and octagonal forms. 

Compare a similar wucai pentalobed basin painted with a single dragon in the Idemitsu Museum of Arts, published in Chinese Ceramics in the Idemitsu Collection, Tokyo, 1987, pl.754.  See another of similar design but of octagonal form in ibid., pl.204.  Also compare a related octagonal basin, painted with a dragon and phoenix on the centre, from the Chang Foundation illustrated in Selected Ceramics from Han to Qing Dynasties, Taipei, 1990, pl. 108.  See also a blue and white basin painted with a dragon to the centre amongst floral scrolls, offered in this sale, lot 2936.