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PROPERTY FROM A PROMINENT PRIVATE The dragon and lotus design was one of the one in the Capital Museum, Beijing, published in
COLLECTION favorite designs of the Zhengde emperor and Zhongguo taoci quanji, vol. 12, Shanghai, 2000, pl.
adorned a variety of vessels, including bowls, 138; another in the Shanghai Museum, included
A BLUE AND WHITE ‘DRAGON’ stemcups, jars of zhadou shape and dishes. in Wang Qingzheng, Underglaze Blue and Red,
DISH Although this design was popular throughout the Hong Kong, 1993, pl. 116; and a fourth example
ZHENGDE MARK AND PERIOD Ming period, the dense and even composition in the Meiyintang collection, illustrated in Regina
rendered in soft cobalt blue seen on the present Krahl, Chinese Ceramics from the Meiyintang
well potted with rounded sides rising to an dish is peculiar to the Zhengde reign. Collection, vol. 4, pt. I, London, 2010, pl. 1679. For
everted rim, painted with a central medallion the Xuande prototype see one excavated at the
enclosing a sinuous ve-clawed dragon, Closely related examples, all bearing the four- waste heaps of the Ming imperial kilns, published
surrounded by two striding dragons at the character reign mark that is characteristic of in Lu Minghua, Mingdai guanyao ciqi, Shanghai,
cavetto, the exterior with two further dragons this group of dishes, are found in museums 2007, pl. 3-119.
above a ruyi band encircling the foot, all against a and collections around the world; see one
dense lotus scroll and within double-line borders, in the Palace Museum, Beijing, illustrated in $ 30,000-50,000
the base with a four-character mark in underglaze The Complete Collection of Treasures of the
blue within a double circle Palace Museum. Blue and White Porcelain with
Diameter 7¾ in., 19.7cm Underglazed Red (II), Shanghai, 2000, pl. 63;
PROVENANCE 2001 11 13 143
Christie’s London, 13th November 2001, lot 143.
80 SOTHEBY’S
