A LARGE AND IMPRESSIVE BLUE AND WHITE 'DRAGON' DISH YONGZHENG MARK AND PERIOD

well-potted with curved sides rising from a slightly tapering foot to a flared rim, the interior painted in rich cobalt-blue tones with a frontal winged dragon in pursuit of a flaming pearl amidst composite floral scrolls, the deep cavetto with two sinuous dragons pacing amid stylised lotus scrolls, all below a band of cresting waves on the rim, the exterior similarly painted with two dragons pacing amid lotus scrolls, the recessed base with a six-character Yongzheng mark within a double-circle

Private Collection, United Kingdom.

This large and impressive dish has been cleanly broken in half with an associated smaller wedge-shaped break and restored, with further small areas of restoration visible at the rim and foot, minor glaze firing imperfections including burst glaze bubbles and light glaze scratches.
"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 magnificent size and formidable decoration were made to impress. They were used at Imperial banquets and on special celebratory occasions, when thousands of guests were invited to dine with the emperor and large quantities of meals were served.  A closely related example is illustrated in Regina Krahl, Chinese Ceramics from the Meiyintang Collection, vol. 2, London, 1994, pl. 761. Several dishes of this type have been sold at auction, including two in our Hong Kong rooms, 8^th April 2009, lot 1607, and 2^nd May 2000, lot 673; another in these rooms, 7^th June 2000, lot 126; and a fourth example at Christie's New York, 22^nd March 2007, lot 336.

The decoration found on this dish is a Yongzheng period interpretation of an early-Ming dynasty pattern. The Yongzheng emperor was known to have sent antiques from the palace to Jingdezhen for setting quality standards or for use as models and inspiration for designs. The dragon design is modelled after a Xuande prototype, painted with a side-facing five-clawed dragon amongst lotus scroll in the centre and the sides decorated with two dragons striding among peony flowers. An example of the Xuande pattern can be found in the National Palace Museum, Taipei, illustrated in A Panorama of Ceramics in the Collection of the National Palace Museum. Hsuan-te Ware I, Taipei, 2000, pl. 2. The Ming dynasty influence is also apparent in the stippled dots that imitate those seen on early Ming blue-and-white vessels with the 'heaped-and-piled' effect caused by the surplus cobalt.

The creative ingenuity of the Yongzheng potter in his use of space is evident from the successful transfer of a pattern that was originally made for much smaller vessels. While maintaining the essence of the original design the artist created a motif that is familiar yet contemporary. The side-facing dragon has been replaced with a winged-dragon, yinglong, en face, and the original lotus scroll decoration now includes a variety of flowers. The band of wind-tossed crested waves around the rim is an innovative addition to the original composition.

Yongzheng dishes of this type continued to be favoured by the Qianlong emperor; compare a large dish with a Qianlong reign mark and of the period sold twice in our New York rooms, 23^rd October 1976, lot 325, and again, 22^nd March 2000, lot 133.