A FINELY ENAMELLED GREEN-GROUND AUBERGINE 'DRAGON' DISH MARK AND PERIOD OF KANGXI

the centre finely incised with a ferocious five-clawed dragon writhing amid flames and cloud swirls in pursuit of a 'flaming pearl', decorated around the well with two further sinous dragons chasing a 'flaming pearl', the exterior similarly decorated with a pair of dragons above a lotus lappet border at the foot, the incised areas applied with silvery tones of aubergine, all reserved on a bright emerald-green ground, the base glazed white and inscribed with the six-character mark in underglaze-blue

From a European noble family since the mid-20th century.

There are minor surface scratches to the interior, but otherwise the dish is very good condition overall.
"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."

Dishes of this design and of this small size are unusual.  See a larger dish of this design in the Hallywl Museum, illustrated in Jan Wirgin, K'ang-hsi Porcelain, Stockholm, 1974, pl.37b; another sold in our New York rooms, 13th February 1969, lot 46, now in the Umezawa Kinenkan, Tokyo, is illustrated in Shincho toki, Tokyo, 1984, pl.24; and a third in the National Palace Museum, Taipei, is published in the Illustrated Catalogue of Ch'ing Dynasty Porcelain, vol.1, Tokyo, 1980, pl.30. 

Compare also a dish from the Nanjing Museum included in the exhibition Qing Imperial Porcelain of the Kangxi, Yongzheng and Qianlong reigns, Art Gallery, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, 1995, cat.no.30; one sold at Christie's London, 3rd December 1973, lot 209, and again in these rooms, 22nd May 1979, lot 229; and another from the T.Y. Chao Private and Family Trust Collection, sold in these rooms, 18th November 1986, lot 117, and again, 9th October 2007, lot 1612.