AN EXTREMELY RARE BLUE AND WHITE 'DRAGON' DOUBLE-GOURD VASE SEAL MARK AND PERIOD OF JIAQING

the upper bulb of slightly compressed globular form rising to a circular mouth, the large lower bulb of globular form, separated by a curved waist, finely painted in meticulous detail with a ferocious five-clawed dragon shown in full-frontal position encircling a 'flaming pearl', flanked by a further eight dragons amidst flames and swirling clouds and above turbluent rolling waves around the foot, their undulating scaly bodies prancing around the sides and captured in various poses, all below a ruyi band at the neck, the base inscribed with the six-character seal mark in underglaze-blue

A Japanese Collection.

There is a small shallow flake to the footring of the base, approx 0.3 by 0.2cm. Otherwise the vase is in very good condition overall. There is a small stained burst bubble to the upper bulb.
"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."

It is rare to find blue and white double gourd vases of the Jiaqing period painted with these five-clawed Imperial dragons, and only one companion piece of the same form and decoration appears to be recorded, the vase sold in these rooms, 31^st October 1974, lot 199.  

Compare two Jiaqing vases of globular form decorated in underglaze blue with similar dragons amongst clouds above waves; a vase from the National Palace Museum, Taipei, included in the Illustrated Catalogue of Ch'ing Dynasty Porcelain in the National Palace Museum, vol. 2, Tokyo, 1981, pl. 93; and one sold in these rooms, 2^nd May 1995, lot 86.

Double-gourd vases painted with front and side facing dragons in copper-red from the Qianlong period may have served as the inspiration for the present vase. See a closely related Qianlong example sold in our London rooms, 20^th June 2001, and again in these rooms, 9^th October 2007, lot 1216; and another from the collection of T. Y. Chao, included in the exhibition Ming and Ch'ing Porcelain from the Collection of the T. Y. Chao Family Foundation, Hong Kong Museum of Art, Hong Kong, 1978, cat. no. 781, and sold in these rooms, 17^th November 1975, lot 222, and again, 18^th November 1986, lot 71.