A VERY RARE MING 'PHAGS.PA-MARKED BLUE AND WHITE 'DRAGON' DISH

Details

A VERY RARE MING 'PHAGS.PA-MARKED BLUE AND WHITE 'DRAGON' DISH
ENCIRCLED JIAJING FOUR-CHARACTER MARK IN 'PHAGS.PA SCRIPT AND OF THE PERIOD

The dish sturdily potted, the rounded sides rising to a slightly flaring lip, vividly painted in dark lines and lighter washes of underglaze blue with a prancing five-clawed dragon among scrolling lotus in the well, and similarly on the exterior with two dragons in mutual pursuit above a band of ruyi around the foot (three hairline cracks, two from small rim chips, restored, glaze worn)-- 10 3/8in. (26.4cm.) diam.

Lot Essay

This appears to be a pattern inspired by earlier Zhengde and even Xuande-marked dishes. Cf. the Zhengde-marked dish illustrated in Chinese Porcelain, The S.C. Ko Tianminlou Collection, pl. 34 with a dragon reserved against a less dense lotus scroll, but with another two in the well; and pl. 19, the Xuande prototype

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