A Large Green and Aubergine Yellow-Ground Biscuit Charger, Kangxi mark and period

A Large Green and Aubergine Yellow-Ground Biscuit Charger, Kangxi mark and period

boldly decorated and incised on the interior well with a plunging aubergine dragon and a leaping green dragon, each in mutual pursuit of a 'flaming pearl', encircled by floral sprigs on the cavetto, including prunus, peony and chrysanthemum, all below six striding dragons interspersed with 'flaming pearls' on the everted rim, the exterior with four striding dragons below cranes and clouds, all reserved on a rich yellow ground. diameter 16 in., 40.6 cm. Estimate 50,000—70,000 USD

PROVENANCE: Acquired from a German dealer before 1924.
Brought to the United States circa 1934, by Gertrude Morgenroth, Great Neck, New York.
Thence by descent to Eva Lande.
Thence by descent to the present owner.

EXHIBITED: Akron Art Institute, Akron, Ohio (before 1981).
Miami University Art Museum, Oxford, Ohio (1981-2008).

NOTE: Kangxi mark and period chargers of this design are included in several museum and private collections, including the National Palace Museum, Taipei; the Palace Museum, Beijing; and the Victoria and Albert Museum, London. Another from the Hartog Collection was included in the exhibition Tausend Jahre Chinesische Keramik, Museum für Kunst und Gewerbe, Hamburg, 1974, cat.no. 144. A charger of the same size was sold in our Hong Kong rooms, originally from the collection of Captain C. Oswald Liddell, sold 18th May 1988, lot 301, and later part of The Jingguantang Collection, subsequently sold at Christie's Hong Kong, 2nd November 1999, lot 578.

Sotheby's. Chinese Works of Art. 17 Mar 09.New York www.sothebys.com Photo courtesy Sotheby's