Lot 123 , A Chinese iron red and underglaze blue dragon dish, Qianlong seal mark and of the period (1736-95), diameter 17.5cm, slight faults

A Chinese iron red and underglaze blue 'dragon' dish, Qianlong seal mark and of the period (1736-95), the centre of the dish painted with a five claw dragon enamelled in iron red amid swirling waves, the exterior with nine iron-red enamelled dragons in different poses amid waves below an interlocking circle border, diameter 17.5cm, slight faults
Estimate £3,000-5,000

compare a similar dish sold by Christie's, New York, Fine Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art sale, 19th-20th September 2013, lot 1308.

Dishes with this design in underglaze blue and iron red can be found with reign marks of almost all the emperors of the Qing dynasty. Those with Qianlong marks have been included in the exhibitions Ch'ing Porcelain from the Wah Kwong Collection, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong 1973, no. 70, and the Arts of the Ch'ing Dynasty, Oriental Ceramic Society, 1964, no. 235.

There is a 4mm wide shallow chip to the rim at the 10 o'clock position, a fine hairline crack extending from the rim to the foot at the 2 o'clock position and an extremely fine hairline crack extending from the rim approx 20mm at the 7 o'clock position, there are two scratches to the glaze on the interior of the bowl between the lower legs of the dragon and there is a shallow chip to the foot which is really only visible when upturned measuring approx, 20mm across, this may even be a firing fault in manufacture and there is a tiny associated splinter chip to the glaze on the inside of the foot, otherwise in good condition with no restoration.


Descriptions provided in both printed and on-line catalogue formats do not include condition reports. The absence of a condition statement does not imply that the lot is in perfect condition or completely free from wear and tear, imperfections or the effects of aging. Interested bidders are strongly encouraged to request a condition report on any lots upon which they intend to bid, prior to placing a bid. All transactions are governed by Gorringes Conditions of Sale.

Sold for £3,000