A RARE COPPER-RED AND UNDERGLAZE-BLUE DECORATED 'DRAGON' FISH BOWL QING DYNASTY, KANGXI PERIOD

the sturdily potted bowl with deep sides gently curving up to the lipped rim, the exterior painted in underglaze-red with two ferocious five-clawed dragons striding in pursuit of flaming pearls, all amidst flames and clouds and above breaking waves, the dragon's eyes in underglaze-blue 

This impressive fish bowl is in good condition, but does have numerous scratches to the glaze to the rim and some to the sides and the interior. There is a 3.5cm firing crack to the interior, with an associated area of glaze pulling.
"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."

This fishbowl is notable for its bold and striking image of dragons above crested waves. A closely related fishbowl in the Palace Museum, Beijing, is illustrated in The Complete Collection of Treasures of the Palace Museum. Blue and White Porcelain with Underglazed Red (III), Shanghai, 2000, pl. 190; and another is illustrated in Sekai tōji zenshū [Catalogue of World’s Ceramics], vol. 12, Tokyo, 1956, pl. 25. See also a fishbowl of this form and design, but the waves decorated in green and black enamels, in the Palace Museum, Beijing, published in Gu taoci ziliao xuancui, vol. 2, Beijing, 2005, pl. 26; and another lacking the waves, sold twice in our Hong Kong rooms, 25^th November 1987, lot 102, and 23^rd October 2005, lot 342.

Compare also a larger fishbowl similarly painted in underglaze blue and copper red with dragons above waves but modelled with straight sides, illustrated in John Ayers, Chinese Ceramics in the Baur Collection, vol. 2, Geneva, 1999, pl. 198; another sold in these rooms, 25^th June 1980, lot 64; and a third sold twice in these rooms, 3^rd December 1974, lot 531, and 2^nd November 1982, lot 71.