Lot 28
  • 28

A LARGE BLUE AND WHITE ‘DRAGON’ MEIPING WANLI MARK AND PERIOD

Estimate
70,000 - 90,000 GBP
Log in to view results
bidding is closed

Description

  • porcelain
sturdily potted with high rounded shoulders rising to a short waisted neck and lipped rim, boldly painted in rich cobalt-blue tones with a ferocious four-clawed dragon grasping a sprig of lingzhi in its mouth, the sinuous scaly body with trailing flame-like extensions, the head detailed with whiskers and a long mane, all between lappet bands around the shoulder and the foot, inscribed with a six-character reign mark

Condition

This large and impressive vase is in good condition with the exception of over-painting to a vertical body crack extending from the top of the lappet band up through the edge of the ruyi head and dragons front left claws and curving to the right to meet the lappet band at the shoulder, minor glaze firing imperfections including scattered iron spots, 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."

Catalogue Note

Boldly painted with a striking image of a dragon wrapped around the body, large meiping vases painted in underglaze blue appear to have been popular with the Wanli emperor. Eight large vases and covers of this form, decorated with dragons amongst flower scrolls, have been recovered from the Dingling tomb of the Wanli Emperor in 1958, one of which is illustrated in Zhongguo wenwu jinghua daquan. Taoci juan [Gems of China's Cultural Relics, Ceramics Section], Hong Kong, 1993, pl. H4.

 

Compare two closely related vases illustrated in Lu Minghua, Mingdai guanyao ciqi [Ming imperial porcelain], Shanghai, 2007, pls 3-97 and 3-98; a slightly smaller example published in Mayuyama. Seventy Years, vol. 1, Tokyo, 1976, pl. 952; one from the Sir Percival David collection and now in the British Museum, London, included in the Illustrated Catalogue of Underglaze Blue and Copper Red Decorated Porcelains, London, 1976, pl. 669; another vase in the British Museum, illustrated in Jessica Harrison-Hall, Ming Ceramics in the British Museum, London, 2001, pl. 11:32; and a smaller example sold at Christie’s New York, 26th March 2010, lot 1356. Vases of this form are also known painted with phoenix amongst clouds between similar borders; see a meiping included in the Oriental Ceramic Society exhibition Ming Blue and White Porcelain, London, 1946, cat. no. 60, sold in these rooms, 8th July 1958, lot 13; and another sold in our Hong Kong rooms, 2nd May 2005, lot 646.

 

Meiping vases of this type closely follow the Xuande period (1425-1435) prototype; see for example a large vase painted in underglaze blue with a similar four-clawed dragon grasping a sprig of lingzhi, recovered from the Xuande stratum of the imperial kilns at Jingdezhen, included in the exhibition Imperial Porcelain of the Yongle and Xuande Periods Excavated from the Site of the Ming Imperial Factory at Jingdezhen, Hong Kong Museum of Art, Hong Kong, 1989, cat. no. 88.