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A VERY RARE LARGE BLUE AND WHITE ‘DRAGON’ FISH BASIN
JIAJING SIX-CHARACTER MARK IN UNDERGLAZE BLUE IN A LINE AND OF THE PERIOD
(1522-1566)
The basin is sturdily potted with deep rounded walls flaring very slightly towards the
galleried rim. It is painted in deep vibrant tones of violet-blue on the exterior with two
striding five-clawed dragons amidst lotus. The interior is covered with a clear glaze and
the base is unglazed.
28 in. (71 cm.) wide
HK$500,000-700,000 US$65,000-91,000
A fish bowl of this date and pattern was included in the exhibition, Selected Ceramics from the
Collection of Mr. & Mrs. J.M. Hu, Shanghai, 1989, no. 21; and another example of this pattern
is illustrated in Ming dai taoci daquan, Taiwan, 1987, p. 317. Compare another example sold at
Christie’s New York, 19 September 2006, lot 252.
The large size of these dragon fish bowls made them particularly difficult to manufacture. See R.
L. Hobson, The Wares of the Ming Dynasty, London, 1923, pp. 19 and 110, where it is mentioned
that this type of ware required up to nine days firing and that the low rate of success often drove
the imperial potters to despair.
明嘉靖 青花龍穿蓮紋大缸 六字楷書橫款
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