A PAIR OF CHINESE IMPERIAL YELLOW AND BLUE-GROUND 'DRAGON' DISHES

SIX CHARACTER QIANLONG SEAL MARKS AND OF THE PERIOD 1736-95

Each with a shallow body rising to a slightly everted rim, the centres decorated with five-clawed dragons amidst clouds and flames in pursuit of flaming pearls of wisdom, the rims with further dragons, the exteriors mirroring the design, with a band of lappets around the feet, 25.3cm. (2)

Dishes of this colour and pattern were produced for the use of a fifth rank Imperial concubine.

Cf. A Special Exhibition of Dragon-Motif Porcelain in the National Palace Museum in Taiwan, Taipei in 1983, catalogue no.76 which included a dish of this design. Another from the Scheinman collection was featured in the exhibition Born of Earth and Fire in The Baltimore Museum of Art, 1992, catalogue no.90.