- 209
A LARGE BLUE AND WHITE 'DRAGON' DISH MING DYNASTY, LATE 15TH/EARLY 16TH CENTURY
Estimate
30,000 - 40,000 GBP
bidding is closed
Description
- porcelain
sturdily potted with rounded sides rising from a tapered foot to a wide and everted rim, the interior freely painted with a central medallion enclosing a sinuous coiled dragon (xiangcaolong) grasping a lotus spray in its mouth, all surrounded by a ruyi band and three further dragons pacing along the well with lotus sprays in their mouths, the rim encircled by a classic scroll, the decoration repeated on the exterior
Provenance
A Portuguese Private Collection.
Condition
A 120mm rim crack at approximately 7 o'clock; numerous frits to rim and a large 36mm chip to underside of the rim. Other various firing imperfections including glaze pulls, pitting and glaze inclusions.
"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."
"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."
Catalogue Note
A dish of equally large size and painted with a similarly rendered dragon in the centre and well, but of rounded form, was sold at Christie’s London, 10th May 2011, lot 257. Dragons with scrolling foliage bodies as seen on the present piece were adapted from designs from late Chenghua period imperial quality porcelain; for example see a Chenghua stemcup in the National Palace Museum, Taipei, included in the exhibition Ming Chenghua ciqi tezhan, National Palace Museum, Taipei, 1976, cat. no. 72.