A GREEN-GROUND FAMILLE-VERTE BISCUIT 'DRAGON' PEN BOX AND COVER QING DYNASTY, KANGXI PERIOD |

of oblong form, the flat cover painted with a writhing dragon amid flame wisps in pursuit of a 'Flaming Pearl', the long sides of the box each with striding chilong with curving bifurcated tail and grasping a long-stemmed lotus bloom and divided by auspicious emblems, the box exterior similarly decorated, the interior with three circular and one shaped oblong compartment (2), coll. no. 206.

Collection of Edgar (c.1880-1972) and Hedwig (c.1893-1987) Worch, from 1938.
Christie's New York, 2nd June 1994, lot 400.
The Chinese Porcelain Company, New York.

Famille Verte Porcelain of the Kangxi Period, The Chinese Porcelain Company, New York, 1994, cat. no. 23.

The Chinese Porcelain Company, A Dealer's Record 1985-2000, New York, 2000, p. 121.

The box and cover is in good overall condition. The cover has a tiny rim chip and the box has two small chips to the foot rim. There is appropriate wear and expected minor imperfections.
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.

The present elongated form with rounded ends is modeled after an Islamic metal prototype known from the 13th century, which was often richly chased and inlaid with gold and silver. Originally closely modeled after the Islamic form, the shape gradually changed to suit the requirements of Chinese calligraphers. Furthermore, decoration on pen boxes include motifs that conveyed auspicious messages, as seen on the present example. Chinese porcelain interpretations of the form were first made at the imperial kilns in Jingdezhen during the early Ming dynasty and continued to be popular well into the Qing dynasty. Similar examples include a green-ground box with dragons from the Qing Court Collection illustrated in The Complete Collection of Treasures of the Palace Museum, Miscellaneous Enamelled Porcelains Plain Tricoloured Porcelains, Hong Kong 2009, pl. 217 and a yellow-ground example with phoenix in the Palace Museum, Beijing illustrated in Kangxi, Yongzheng and Qianlong, Qing Porcelain from the Palace Museum, Hong Kong 1989, pl. 102. A white-ground example with dragon motif from the collection of Sir Alfred Beit was sold in our London rooms on 6th November 2013, lot 86.