AN UNUSUAL SMALL POLYCHROME DISH MING DYNASTY, THIRD QUARTER OF THE 15TH CENTURY

with rounded sides rising from a short foot to a flared rim, boldly painted in iron-red, green and turquoise enamels, the interior with a central medallion enclosing a makara dragon amongst scrolling clouds, the ferocious winged beast with mouth widely opened revealing its sharp fangs, all within double-line borders in iron red repeated at the rim, the exterior similarly decorated with two further makara dragons striding amongst clouds, the base with a stylised square seal mark reading zheng (‘authorised’ or ‘standard’) in iron red

Bluett & Sons Ltd, London, 1930s.
Collection of Mr. and Mrs. R.H.R. Palmer (no. 505), from the 1930s to 1962 (£21).
Sotheby's London, 27th November 1962, lot 51 (£180).
Bluett & Sons Ltd, London, 1962 (£180).
Collection of Roger Pilkington (1928-69), from 1962 (£180).

The Arts of the Ming Dynasty, The Oriental Ceramic Society, London 1957, cat. no. 186.

Soame Jenyns, Ming Pottery and Porcelain, London, 1953, pl. 64a.
Adrian Joseph, Ming Porcelains: Their Origins and Development, London, 1971, pl. 66.     

Apart from a minute stained haircrack at the 4 o clock position in the catalogue photo, the dish is in good condition, with just minor firing irregularities and insignificant enamel flakes.
"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."

Notable for its playful rendering of a makara dragon, this dish appears to be related in both style and palette to a group of porcelain wares painted with winged dragons flying amongst clouds and with a shang yong [‘for noble use’] mark on the base. A dish of this type is illustrated in Jan Wirgin, ‘Ming Wares in the Lauritzen Collection’, The Museum of Far Eastern Antiquities Bulletin, vol. 37, 1965, pl. 8, no. 13a.

Further related examples include a dish from the Sir Percival David collection and now in the British Museum, London, published in Margaret Medley, Illustrated Catalogue of Ming Polychrome Wares, London, rev. ed., 1996, pl. 761; another from the Avery Brundage collection, included in the exhibition Ming Porcelain. A Retrospective, China House Gallery, New York, 1970, cat. no. 40; two from the collection of Sir A.A. Aykroyd, sold in our London rooms, 17th May 1966, lots 19 and 20; and a bowl illustrated in Sekai tōji zenshū [Catalogue of world’s ceramics], vol. 11, Tokyo, 1955, col. pl. 14.