rare bol à décor doucai Chine, dynastie Qing, marque et époque Kangxi (1662-1722)

le bord évasé sur un court pied droit, le pourtour extérieur à décor bleu sous couverte et polychrome de deux dragons verts et deux dragons aubergine au-dessus de flots tumultueux, l'intérieur avec un cinquième dragon en médaillon et une double ligne bleue au rebord se répétant à l'extérieur et autour du pied, la base émaillée blanc avec marque kaishu Kangxi à six caractères dans un double cercle en bleu sous couverte 

Sotheby's Hong Kong, 27 April 1999, lot 425.

With the exception of a 3mm by 4mm iron spot to the centre of the interior; two pin head-size glaze bubbles and one tiny underglaze blue spot to the well of the interior; two pin head-size glazing impurities to the rim and to the exterior; minor overall glazing spots and imperfections; and light surface scratches, this piece is in very good condition. Please note the body of the bowl is of a more celadon tone than illustrated in the catalogue.
"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."

Bowls of this type are extremely rare and the only other known example was sold at Christie's London, 17^th June 2003, lot 52, and again at Christie's Hong Kong, 27^th May 2008, lot 1760.

The style of the dragons depicted on this bowl, with their animated facial features and poses, retain late-Ming characteristics to suggest an early Kangxi reign date. For a Ming doucai bowl decorated with dragons chasing flaming pearls above rockwork and breaking waves, with a Zhengde reign mark and of the period, see two in the Nanjing Museum, included in the exhibition Chinese Porcelain in Underglaze Blue from the Nanjing Museum Collection, Sagawa Art Museum, Shiga Prefecture, 2003, cat. nos. 40-1, 40-2.