明嘉靖 青花雲龍紋大盤 《大明嘉靖年製》款

with gently rounded sides rising from a slightly tapered foot, boldly painted to the center with a five-clawed dragon leaping amidst clouds, all framed within three single line borders, the exterior with two further dragons striding in pursuit of 'flaming pearls', the six-character reign mark inscribed in a horizontal line within a rectangular cartouche beneath the rim, the base unglazed, Japanese wood box (2)

In overall good condition with only minor firing imperfections (including an uneven rim) and expected wear to footring.
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.

Compare a slightly larger dish of this design in the collection of the Philadelphia Museum of Art, illustrated in An Exhibition of Blue-Decorated Porcelain of the Ming Dynasty, Philadelphia Museum of Art, 1949, cat. no. 109. Another example, of the same size as the present dish, was sold in our London rooms, 5th December 1995, lot 397. A third smaller dish, formerly in the collection of M.S. Whitehouse was included in the Oriental Ceramic Society exhibition of Chinese Blue and white Porcelain, 14th to 19th Centuries, London, 1954, cat. no. 152, and was later sold in our London rooms, 9th June 1992, lot 234.