A fine and rare large wucai ‘dragon’ dish, Mark and period of Wanli | 明萬曆　五彩雙龍戲珠紋盤　《大明萬曆年製》款

Notable for its remarkable size, this dish is vividly decorated with two five-clawed dragons in pursuit of a flaming pearl.  Beyond its impressive scale, the piece is further elevated by its rare, delicately painted floral border.

Compare a related Wanli mark and period dish, decorated with a similar dragon design but with a dragon border, which was sold in these rooms, 2nd June 2016, lot 816. See also an unmarked dish of this dragon design in the Idemitsu Museum of Arts, Tokyo, illustrated in Chinese Ceramics of the Idemitsu Collection, Tokyo, 1987, pl. 758.