A PAIR OF FINE BLUE AND WHITE AND IRON-RED 'DRAGON' DISHES SEAL MARKS AND PERIOD OF QIANLONG

each with shallow rounded sides rising from a small slightly tapered foot to an everted rim, decorated on the interior with a central medallion enclosing an iron-red five-clawed dragon writhing above turbulent waves deftly painted in contrasting underglaze blue, all within a double-line border repeated at the rim, the exterior similarly decorated with nine dragons in shades of iron red, each depicted in a different pose writhing above a blue tempestuous sea, between a band af alternating half-florets at the rim and double lines encircling the foot, the base inscribed in underglaze blue with a six-character seal mark

The Songzhutang Collection.

Both dishes are in an overall very good condition. There are a few minor pin-prick burst air bubbles on the rim to one, a pin-prick air bubble to the foot of the other.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

A closely related example was included in the Oriental Ceramic Society exhibition The Arts of the Ch’ing Dynasty, London, 1964, cat. no. 235; and another was exhibited in Ch’ing Porcelain from the Wah Kwong Collection, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, 1973, cat. no. 70; and a dish from the Brigadier H. Campbell and Gerald M. Greenwald collections was sold in our London rooms,  26^th June 1973, lot 323, again in these rooms, 20^th/21^st May 1980, lot 221, and a third time at Christie’s New York, 24^th March 2011, lot 1784. Compare also three similar dishes sold in these rooms, a pair, 7^th May 2002, lot 602, and the third, 27^th October 1992, lot 83, and again, 25^th April 2004, lot 311.