A rare Imperial Ming underglaze-blue 'Double-Dragon' circular box and cover, China, Wanli six-character mark within double-circles and of the period. Photo Nagel Auktionen
The domed cover is painted with a pair of confronted five-clawed dragons contesting a 'flaming pearl' amidst flames and cloud-scrolls, the rounded sides of both box and cover with the Eight Buddhist Emblems are embedded in a lotus scroll band, the rims have a narrow zig-zag band with radiating cloud scrolls. D. 19,5 cm - Good condition. Estimate 35000/50000 €
For a similar box and cover from the Imperial collection see 'Blue and White Porcelain with Underglaze Red II - The complete Collection of Treasures of the Palace Museum', Hongkong, 2000, no. 154.
Compare two very similar boxes and covers from the Collection of Kwong Yee Che Tong and Dr. Michael L. Yuen illustrated in The University Museum and Art Gallery, The Fame of Flame, Imperial Wares of the Jiajing and Wanli Periods, Hong Kong. 2009, nos. 94, 95
Nagel Auktionen. 2013/05/08. http://www.auction.de/