A RARE AND LARGE BLUE AND WHITE 'DRAGON' DISH JIAJING MARK AND PERIOD

with gently rounded sides rising from a slightly tapered foot, boldly painted to the interior in inky tones of underglaze blue with two dragons in pursuit of a 'Flaming Pearl' above crested waves and amidst cloud and flame scrolls, all enclosed within ring borders, the underside with a frieze of nine similar ascending and descending dragons above waves, the six-character mark inscribed in a horizontal line within a rectangular cartouche beneath the rim, Japanese wood box (3)

In overall good condition with surface wear. With minor firing imperfections including glaze gaps, kiln adhesion, and iron spots. There is an approximately 3 cm diameter semi-circle glaze crack at the interior mouth rim and fritting at the rim. The blue is slightly more gray than the color in the printed catalogue. The potting is even.
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.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING CONDITION OF A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE PRINTED IN THE CATALOGUE.

This dish is notable for its large size and unusual design of two confronted dragons; see a slightly larger example from the collection of Dr Ip Yee, sold in our Hong Kong rooms, 19th November 1984, lot 185; and another, in the Topkapi Saray Museum, Istanbul, was included in Regina Krahl, Chinese Ceramics in the Topkapi Saray Museum, Istanbul, ed. John Ayers, London, 1986, vol. 2, cat. no. 924; and a much larger version sold at Christie’s London, 16th November 1999, lot 187. See also a similar dish in the Tokyo National Museum, Tokyo, acc. no. TG-959.

Compare also dishes of similar size but painted with the more typical front-facing dragon, such as one in the Idemitsu Museum, Tokyo, illustrated in Chinese Ceramics in the Idemitsu Collection, Tokyo, 1987, pl. 705; another included An Exhibition of Blue-Decorated Porcelain of the Ming Dynasty and illustrated in Philadelphia Museum Bulletin, vol. XLIV no. 223, Autumn 1984, pl. 109; and a third sold at Christie’s Hong Kong, 1st-3rd May 1994, lot 639.