A COPPER-RED 'DRAGON' VASE, LAIBOZUN MARK AND PERIOD OF KANGXI

of ovoid form with a short neck below a lipped mouthrim, the exterior freely painted with two dragons in vivid tones of copper-red, each with arms out-stretched, eyes picked out in blue and their scaly bodies leaping vigourously amid trailing flame swirls, covered overall in a transparent glaze stopping neatly at the foot, the slightly sunken base with a six-character underglaze-blue reign mark

Acquired in Hong Kong, 2005.

The mouth has areas of restoration, including a 1 x 0.7 cm triangular restuck chip and an associated 1.3 cm hairline crack with only very tiny losses. There is also a 1.5 cm polished chip to the unglazed footring. The copper-red is well controlled and bright throughout with characteristic green speckles.
"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."

Dragon vases of this type appear with both underglaze-blue and copper-red decoration. Compare a related copper-red painted vase, with the dragon's eyes also picked out in blue, illustrated in John Ayers, Chinese Ceramics in the Baur Collection, vol. 2, Geneva, 1999, pl. 146; another in the Victoria and Albert Museum, London, published in Rose Kerr, Chinese Ceramics. Porcelain of the Qing Dynasty, London, 1986, pl. 5; and a third from the Sir Percival David collection and now in the British Museum, London, included in Oriental Ceramics. The World's Great Collection, vol. 6, Tokyo, 1982, pl. 208. A smaller vase of this design, but with a ribbed mouth, is illustrated in Ayer, op. cit., pl. 144.

Compare also underglaze-blue decorated vases of this type, including one in the Palace Museum, Beijing, included in Kangxi. Yongzheng. Qianlong, Hong Kong, 1989, pl. 6; one in the Shanghai Museum, Shanghai, illustrated in Kangxi Wares from the Shanghai Museum Collection, Hong Kong, 1998, pl. 12; another from the Wang Xin Lou collection, published in Imperial Perfection. The Palace Porcelain of Three Chinese Emperors, Hong Kong, 2004, pl. 1; and a fourth example from the J.M. Hu Family Collection, sold in our New York rooms, 4^th June 1985, lot 23, and again at Christie's Hong Kong, 28^th November 2006, lot 1317.