with deep rounded sides resting on a short straight foot, brightly decorated around the exterior with two five-clawed dragons striding amidst stylised clouds above crashing waves, each mythical beast depicted writhing sinuously and chasing a flaming pearl, all between bands enclosing a stylised foliate scroll and chevron motifs encircling the rim and foot, the interior centred with a medallion enclosing a coiling dragon, below a classic scroll border to the inner rim, all incised with elaborate details, picked out in bright green enamel and reserved on a yellow ground, the base left white and inscribed in underglaze blue with a six-character reign mark within a double circle

A Japanese family collection, by repute.

Extensive scratches surface wear, especially to the interior, as well as original flaws including minor fritting and firing lines mainly to the interior well. The unglazed foot has a few minor flakes and the inner footrim appears to have been slightly polished.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

Dragon designs in this yellow-and-green colour scheme were already experimented with at the Jingdezhen imperial kilns in the Yongle period (1403-24), but this colour combination became popular only in the Zhengde reign (1506-21). For a small ewer and dish with this design excavated from the Yongle stratum of the Ming imperial kiln site see Imperial Porcelain of the Yongle and Xuande Periods Excavated from the Site of the Ming Imperial Factory at Jingdezhen, Hong Kong Museum of Art, Hong Kong, 1989, cat. nos. 28 and 29. In the Zhengde period ewers, slop bowls (zhadou), dishes, and bowls of different shapes were made in this design; compare a Zhengde bowl in the Koger collection, illustrated in John Ayers, Chinese Ceramics. The Koger Collection, London, 1985, pl. 73; and the zhadou in the Meiyintang collection, illustrated in Regina Krahl, Chinese Ceramics from the Meiyintang Collection, London, 1994-2010, vol. 4, no. 1682. No other bowl of this size and design appears to be recorded, but smaller Jiajing bowls with dragons are known. See a related type with slightly everted rims, decorated with a pair of dragons striding among scrolling clouds, but above upright lotus petals instead of waves, the rims without stylised bands, including one example in the Meiyintang collection, illustrated by Regina Krahl, ibid., vol. 2, no. 696, sold in our London rooms, 8th/9th July 1974, lot 247, and twice at Christie’s London, 12th December 1977, lot 150, and 8th December 1986, lot 329. Compare also another type of even smaller size, decorated with a frieze dragon, phoenix and crane between a classic-scroll and stylised lappets, such as one from the collection of George de Menasce, sold in these rooms, 28th April 1998, lot 792.