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Lot Essay
The form of the present ewer follows the iconic ewer prototype established in the Yongle reign. The spout and handle are decorated with leafy scrolls, and the body with two five-clawed dragons in flight amidst lotus scrolls above a band of ruyi-cloud heads encircling the foot.
The Zhengde reign marks a transitional period in Ming dynasty porcelain production, bridging the refined style of Chenghua and the more robust aesthetic of Jiajing. The present lot, however, is distinguished by its delicately potted body, vibrant blue pigment, and fine brushwork, making it a more refined example of Zhengde imperial ware. The design of dragons amid floral scrolls first appeared on early Ming imperial porcelain and reached prominence during the Zhengde reign. It conveys auspicious wishes for enduring imperial rule and unbroken succession, a motif of such enduring appeal that it continued to be prized at court into the Qing dynasty.
Among Zhengde blue and white wares, ewers are exceptionally rare; the present example may well be the only complete vessel of its kind recorded. Dragons amid floral scrolls can be more commonly found on dishes and bowls; compare to a blue and white dish and a bowl, formerly in the collection of R.F.A Riesco, both sold at Christie's Hong Kong, 27 November 2013, lot 3116 and 3117 respectively (fig. 1 and fig. 2). A smaller example is a blue and white zhadou bearing the same Zhengde mark, decorated with six dragons amidst floral scrolls, preserved in the National Palace Museum, Taipei, collection no. zhongci 004978N (fig. 3).
The Zhengde reign marks a transitional period in Ming dynasty porcelain production, bridging the refined style of Chenghua and the more robust aesthetic of Jiajing. The present lot, however, is distinguished by its delicately potted body, vibrant blue pigment, and fine brushwork, making it a more refined example of Zhengde imperial ware. The design of dragons amid floral scrolls first appeared on early Ming imperial porcelain and reached prominence during the Zhengde reign. It conveys auspicious wishes for enduring imperial rule and unbroken succession, a motif of such enduring appeal that it continued to be prized at court into the Qing dynasty.
Among Zhengde blue and white wares, ewers are exceptionally rare; the present example may well be the only complete vessel of its kind recorded. Dragons amid floral scrolls can be more commonly found on dishes and bowls; compare to a blue and white dish and a bowl, formerly in the collection of R.F.A Riesco, both sold at Christie's Hong Kong, 27 November 2013, lot 3116 and 3117 respectively (fig. 1 and fig. 2). A smaller example is a blue and white zhadou bearing the same Zhengde mark, decorated with six dragons amidst floral scrolls, preserved in the National Palace Museum, Taipei, collection no. zhongci 004978N (fig. 3).