YONGZHENG SIX-CHARACTER MARK IN UNDERGLAZE BLUE WITHIN A DOUBLE CIRCLE AND OF THE PERIOD (1723-1735)

Dishes of this design, with the unusual winged dragon, first appeared during the Yongzheng reign. A similar example is illustrated by R. Krahl, Chinese Ceramics from the Meiyitang Collection, vol. 2, Hong Kong, 1994, pp. 130-1, pl. 761, where the author compares the design to that on a Xuande-period dish illustrated by A. D. Brankston, Early Ming Wares of Chingtechen, 1938, pl. 21a. Several examples have been sold in our Hong Kong rooms: 30 October 2001, lot 813; 29 April 2001, lot 609; 26 September 1989, lot 651; and in our London Rooms, 5 December 1994, lot 8. The design of this dish appears to have been quite popular, as it was continued into the Qianlong reign.

The vivacity of the central dragon depicted here is characteristic of the Qing dynasty portrayal of the Imperial dragon, which compared to the Ming dragon, is ever more boldly detailed and defined in its facial features and more elaborately represented in its general ferocity and mythological power.