A CHINESE IMPERIAL IRON-RED 'DRAGON' WINE CUP

SIX CHARACTER DAOGUANG MARK AND OF THE PERIOD 1821-50

The deep body raised on a short foot and gently flaring towards the rim, painted with two scaly five-clawed dragons in flight over crashing waves, with stylised clouds dividing the two beasts, the design contained between simple cobalt blue rings, the base with the reign mark in underglaze blue, 6cm dia.

Provenance: from the collection of Lilian Colston (1852-1931), and thence by descent. Lilian was the daughter of Edward Colston (1822-1864) and Louisa Murray (1826-1900). She was an avid collector of antique furniture and items of curiosity. Lilian is remembered as a charitable woman and beloved family member.

Cf. Christie's New York, 2nd December 1989, lot 384 for a pair of Daoguang mark and period cups with the same design; see also Christie's London, 5th November 2013, lot 461 for another pair from the Daoguang period; see also The British Museum, registration no.PDF B711 for a Tongzhi mark and period example on loan from the Sir Percival David Foundation of Chinese Art; see also the Victoria & Albert Museum, accession no.803-1883 for another Tongzhi example; see also S Marchant and Son, Exhibition of Nineteenth Century Mark and Period Porcelain, 1991, p.56, no.58 for a Tongzhi mark and period cup with the same design and p.63, no.68 for a pair of Guangxu mark and period examples.