A rare blue and white 'dragon' bowl. Wanli six-character mark and of the period

A rare blue and white 'dragon' bowl. Wanli six-character mark and of the period. photo Bonhams

Of broad rounded form, the steep sides rising from a straight foot and flaring out at the rim, the interior painted in rich tones of underglaze-blue with a circular medallion enclosing a pair of five-clawed dragons writhing in pursuit of a flaming pearl, the cavetto with four stylised lotus flowers, the exterior painted with four baskets of fruit and flowers interspersed with butterflies, below a narrow band of auspicious motifs at the rim and above a band of scrolling lotus above the foot; 19.3cm diam. Sold for HK$336,000

Provenance:: Formerly in a private Japanese collection

明萬歷　　青花果籃紋碗 「大明萬歷年製」楷款

來源: 日本私人舊藏

A related Wanli 'dragon' bowl with similar design of baskets of flowers around the exterior, but with a band of dragons on the exterior rim, is illustrated by Jessica Harrison-Hall, Ming Ceramics in the British Museum, London, 2001, pg. 307.

Bonhams. Bloch Collection; Wine and Whisky; Chinese Ceramics, Works of Art & Paintings; Jewellery, Jadeite and Wristwatches and Writing Instruments, 23 Nov 2010 to 24 Nov 2010. Hong Kong. www.bonhams.com