A GOOD BLUE AND WHITE 'DRAGON' VASE QING DYNASTY, QIANLONG PERIOD

the finely potted body of pear shape rising from a short spreading foot to a tall cylindrical neck, painted around the exterior in rich cobalt-blue tones with two large scaly five-clawed dragons in mutual pursuit of a flaming pearl, all amidst cloud and fire scrolls and between wave and ruyi bands

Formerly in a private collection, Munich, purchased in 1986 (by repute).

It is rare to find Qianlong vases of this form although a related vessel painted with two large scaly dragons amongst swirling clouds was sold in our Hong Kong rooms, 16th May 1989, lot 269. See also a Qianlong vase decorated with four dragons amidst a dense ground of lotus scroll, from the Evelyn Annenberg Hall collection, sold at Christie's New York, 29th March 2006, lot 169.

For an example of a Qianlong vase of this form see a flambe-glazed vase illustrated in The Official Kiln Porcelain of the Chinese Qing Dynasty, Shanghai, 2003, pl. 345.