The Qianlong poem is a five-character stanza in praise of the elegant workmanship of the bowl; comparing it with the rhythmic flow Zhou dynasty ceremonial music and poetry. From the text, the Qianlong Emperor wanted to convey the tactile quality of the jade's polished surfaces and when handled, it draws on the spiritual senses that in turn helps to clarify the mind. The inscription concludes with the allusion of a Buddhist alms bowl being transformed into a lotus. This imagery can be interpreted to the meaning that with a calm clarity of mind, Enlightenment could be achieved.

This jade bowl with dragons is a variation on the classic theme which harks back to the famous large 'black jade' bowl carved with dragons among clouds and waves in the Round Fort in Beijing, traditionally dated to the Yuan dynasty.

The dragons on the present bowl are very similar to the style of Yuan-dynasty dragons, as can be seen on blue and white jars of the period. At its mature stage of painting, the Yuan dragon is often shown with great vitality and their sinuous scaly bodies are long and thin. The setting is equally matched in vigour, as the Yuan dragons are frequently depicted amidst swirling clouds and turbulent waves.

(US$40,000-64,000)