Lot Essay
The present bowl belongs to a fascinating group of Kangxi coloured-ground wares in which the fifth claw of the dragon is discreetly concealed beneath an overglaze enamel. Here, with iron red and green enamels. A dish exhibiting the same feature is illustrated in John Ayers, Chinese Ceramics in the Baur Collection, vol. 2, Geneva, 1999, p. 37.
A similar Kangxi-marked bowl was sold at Christie’s New York, 1 June 1990, lot 287; another at Christie’s London, 1 December 1997, lot 118; one at Christie’s Hong Kong, 1 June 2011, lot 3512; and one at Christie’s Paris, 12 June 2012, lot 179. Compare also a closely related bowl, but with an exposed five-clawed dragon, illustrated in Chinese Porcelain: The S.C. Ko Tianminlou Collection, Part II, Hong Kong, 1987, pl. 91.
A similar Kangxi-marked bowl was sold at Christie’s New York, 1 June 1990, lot 287; another at Christie’s London, 1 December 1997, lot 118; one at Christie’s Hong Kong, 1 June 2011, lot 3512; and one at Christie’s Paris, 12 June 2012, lot 179. Compare also a closely related bowl, but with an exposed five-clawed dragon, illustrated in Chinese Porcelain: The S.C. Ko Tianminlou Collection, Part II, Hong Kong, 1987, pl. 91.