A FINE AND RARE BLUE AND WHITE 'DRAGON AND PHOENIX' BOWL MARK AND PERIOD OF KANGXI

with deep rounded sides supported on a gently tapered foot, the exterior finely decorated in shaded tones of inky underglaze blue with two leaping three-clawed dragons, the scaly mythical beasts depicted writhing sinuously with wisps of flame issuing from their sides, alternating with a pair of phoenix swooping downwards and detailed with long billowing serrated tail feathers, the base inscribed with a six-character reign mark within a double circle

Collection of Dudley L. Pickman (1779-1848).
Collection of General Charles G. Loring (1828-1902), and thence by descent in the family.
J.J. Lally & Co., New York.

The bowl is in overall very good condition.
"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."

Painted with carefully rendered dragons and phoenix on a pristine white ground, this bowl is a fine example of porcelain ware made at the imperial kilns in Jingdezhen during the Kangxi Emperor's reign. This particular design was probably inspired by the work of the gifted painter Liu Yuan (c.1638-85), who was employed by the court in the early years of the reign, to create porcelain designs. It was Liu who introduced a finely pencilled style on a plain white ground.

A closely related bowl was sold in our London rooms, 11th December 1990, lot 308. Compare also a cup with its matching cover painted with this motif, in the Palace Museum, Beijing, illustrated in The Complete Collection of Treasures in the Palace Museum. Blue and White Porcelain with Underglazed Red (III), Shanghai, 2000, pl. 70; another sold in our London rooms, 7th June 1994, lot 360; and a pair from the Jingguantang Collection, illustrated in The Tsui Museum of Art. Chinese Ceramics IV: Qing Dynasty, Hong Kong, 1995, pl. 52, and sold at Christie's Hong Kong, 3rd November 1996, lot 551.

Dudley L. Pickman (1779-1848) was the founder of one of the great Salem trading companies active in the Far East with a fleet of clipper ships. General Charles G. Loring (1828-1902) was the first director of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, from the opening of the museum in 1876 until his resignation in 1902.