A RARE COPPER-RED DECORATED 'DRAGON' VASE MARK AND PERIOD OF KANGXI

of finely potted ovoid form with low rounded shoulders tapering gently to a short neck, boldly and freely painted in vivid tones of copper-red with two ferocious five-clawed dragons, their eyes picked out in blue and their scaly bodies leaping vigourously amid trailing flame swirls, covered overall in a transparent glaze stopping neatly at the foot, inscribed on the base with the six-character mark in underglaze-blue 

Sotheby's Hong Kong, 28th April 1992, lot 164.

The neck has been rebuilt, but does not touch the copper-red decoration. There is a small chip of approx 1cm as well as some minor fritting to the foot. There are some glaze pitting as well as light scratches to the surface. The overall condtion is good.
"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."

Dragon vases of this type appear with both underglaze-blue and copper-red decoration.  Compare a copper-red decorated vase of similar form in the Baur Collection, with the dragon's eyes also picked out in blue, illustrated in John Ayers, Chinese Ceramics in the Baur Collection, vol.II, pl.146; another in the Victoria and Albert Museum, published in Rose Kerr, Chinese Ceramics, Porcelain of the Qing dynasty, London, 1986, pl.5; and a third in the Percival David Foundation, illustrated in Oriental Ceramics, The World's Greatest Collections, vol.6, London, 1982, cat.no.208. See also a related vase but slightly more globular in form, illustrated in op.cit., pl.144. 

Compare also underglaze-blue decorated vases of this design, including one in the Palace Museum, Beijing, published in Kangxi, Yongzheng, Qianlong, Hong kong, 1989, pl.6; one in the Shanghai Museum, illustrated in Kangxi Porcelain Wares from the Shanghai Museum Collection, Hong Kong, 1998, pl.12; one from the Wang Xin Lou Collection, illustrated in Imperial Perfection, The Palace Porcelain of Three Chinese Emperors, Hong Kong, 2004, cat.no.1; and the fourth from the J.M. Hu Family Collection, sold in our New York rooms, 4th June 1985, lot 23, and again at Christie's Hong Kong, 28th November 2006, lot 1317.