AN INCISED YELLOW-GLAZED 'DRAGON' VASE QING DYNASTY, JIAQING PERIOD

the ovoid body rising from a spreading foot to a tall waisted neck with a slightly incurved rim, incised with four ferocious dragons leaping from turbulent foaming waves contesting for a flaming pearl amongst cloud scrolls and flame wisps, the rim and the foot encircled with a band of circles, covered overall with a rich egg-yolk yellow glaze

Hancocks, London.
Collection of Major M.H. Soames, until 1954.
Sotheby's London, 29th June 1954, lot 164.
Sotheby's London, 7th November 2012, lot 422.

Monochrome Porcelain of the Ming and Manchu Dynasties, Oriental Ceramic Society, London, 1948, cat. no. 164.

The vase is in good condition, but has areas of crazing to the glaze throughout. There are scratches to the glaze to the sides and also numerous pin hole-sized iron spots throughout. There are two areas to one side of the vase where there is a concentration of iron spots beside the tail of one of the dragons.
"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."

The present vase belongs to a distinct group of yellow-glazed vases with incised decoration created during the Jiaqing reign. Jiaqing vases of this type but of various forms, similarly decorated with dragons, include a pear-shaped example from the Huaihaitang collection, included in the exhibition Ethereal Elegance. Porcelain Vases of the Imperial Qing, Art Gallery, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, 2007, cat. no. 55; another with tubular handles, included in the exhibition From the Dragon’s Treasure, Museum für Kunsthandwerk, Frankfurt, 1987, cat. no. 2; a tianqiuping included in the exhibition The World in Monochromes, Brunei Gallery, School of Oriental and African Studies, London, 2009, cat. no. 185; and another sold in these rooms, 29th April 1997, lot 602. See also a Jiaqing mark and period vase decorated with a flower scroll, in the National Palace Museum, Taipei, included in the Museum’s exhibition Qingdai dansi you ciqi [Monochrome Porcelains of the Qing Dynasty], Taipei, 1981, cat. no. 35.