A FINE AND RARE BLUE AND WHITE AND IRON-RED 'DRAGON' BOWL MARK AND PERIOD OF LONGQING

the deep rounded sides rising from a straight foot to an everted rim, boldly painted in iron red with four pairs of confronting writhing five-clawed dragons dancing among flames above a turbulent sea, the interior similarly decorated with an iron-red dragon writhing above crested waves within a double-blue line border repeated at the rim, the base inscribed in underglaze blue with a six-character mark within double circles

The bowl is in overall very good condition with almost no wear to the iron-red enamels.
"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."

Porcelains made at the Imperial kilns at Jingdezhen bearing a Longqing reign mark are rare, possibly due to the brief six-year rule of the Longing Emperor. However, according to Jessica Harrison-Hall, in Ming Ceramics in the British Museum, London, 2001, p. 268, ‘historical records show that vast orders were still placed in the Longqing reign and they actually indicate a further increase in official demands’. Therefore, vessels such as the present piece bearing a Longqing reign mark are particularly valuable for dating. A closely related bowl in the National Palace Museum, Taipei, is illustrated in Enamelled Ware of the Ming Dynasty, vol. III, Hong Kong, 1966, pl. 1, together with a cup decorated with dragons in iron red between underglaze-blue line borders, pl. 2.

This bowl continues in a long tradition of overglaze red decorated wares. Dragon motifs in iron red first appeared in the Hongwu reign and enjoyed a resurgence of popularity from the Zhengde to the Wanli periods and throughout the Qing dynasty. For the Hongwu prototype of this form of decoration see a dish painted with dragons and clouds, excavated at the site of the Ming palace in Nanjing, included in the exhibition Chinese Porcelain in Underglaze Blue from the Nanjing Museum Collection, Sagawa Art Museum, Moriyama, 2003, cat. no. 10.