Lot 3718. A rare blue and white 'dragon' jarlet, Mark and period of Jiajing (1522-1566). Estimate 150,000 — 200,000 HKD. Lot sold 625,000 HKD. Photo Sotheby's.
the compressed ovoid body with tapered sides rising from a recessed base to a broad shoulder and surmounted by a short neck, the exterior painted with two scaly five-clawed dragons soaring sinuously amidst leafy lingzhi scrolls, all between double-line borders encircling the neck and foot, the base with a six-character reign mark inscribed in a circular fashion in a clockwise direction, wood cover; 11.6 cm, 4 1/2 in.
Provenance: Hirano Kotoken.
Note: The inscription of the reign mark in a circular fashion is rare. See a blue and white jar rendered with a 'phoenix and crane' design and a similar circular reign mark, published in, Minji meihin zuroku [Illustrated catalogue of important Ming porcelains], vol. 3, Tokyo, 1978, pl. 9.
Sotheby's. Important Chinese Art, Hong Kong, 05 oct. 2016, 02:30 PM