A PRISTINE TIANBAI ANHUA-DECORATED CONICAL ‘DRAGON’ BOWL, YONGLE MARK, 18TH CENTURY
A PRISTINE TIANBAI ANHUA-DECORATED CONICAL ‘DRAGON’ BOWL, YONGLE MARK, 18TH CENTURY
Expert's note:The vessel is exceptionally thin-walled, with a wall thickness of approximately 1 mm, demonstrating the remarkable technical skill required to produce such a lightweight piece. Its flawless state of preservation makes it an exceptional rarity, as vessels of such delicate construction are seldom found in such outstanding condition.China. Thinly and delicately potted with flaring sides rising from a short straight foot and carved in remarkably fine anhua with two scaly five-clawed dragons in pursuit of flaming pearls, amid flames and lingzhi shaped clouds, applied overall with a clear glaze save for the neatly trimmed unglazed foot pad, the well with an apocryphal anhua-incised four-character mark Yongle nianzhi.Provenance: Dr. John K. Fong and Dr. Colin Johnstone of Johnstone-Fong, Inc., Philadelphia, United States, by 1985. A Swiss private collector of Chinese porcelain, acquired from the above. A copy of a letter written and signed by Dr. John K. Fong, dated 23 March 1985, describing the piece as ‘[Qianlong] copying [Yongle]’, thus confirming the dating above, accompanies the lot. The Johnstone-Fong Collection is a renowned and important collection of artworks from 17th- to 20th-century Japan and China, collected over the years by Dr. John K. Fong and his partner Dr. Colin Johnstone. Part of the collection, numbering more than five hundred objects, are now housed in the Denver Art Museum, USA. Condition: Excellent condition with only minor wear and firing irregularities.Weight: 58.7 g Dimensions: Diameter 13.4 cmLiterature comparison:Compare a Yongle prototype of the current bowl, with a Yongle nianzhi mark in seal script on the interior base, dated Yongle period, 9.9 cm diameter, in National Palace Museum, Taipei, reference number 故瓷017642N000000000.Auction result comparison:Type: Closely relatedAuction: Bonhams London, 8 May 2026, lot 779Price: GBP 8,320 or approx. EUR 9,800 converted at the time of writingDescription: A white-glazed anhua-decorated bowl, Late Qing dynastyExpert remark: Compare the closely related form, the white glaze, Yongle mark, and anhua design. Note the size (10.5 cm).Auction result comparison:Type: Closely relatedAuction: Bonhams New York, 18 March 2019, lot 544Price: USD 7,575 or approx. EUR 9,000 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writingDescription: A white-glazed anhua-decorated 'dragon' bowl, 18th centuryExpert remark: Compare the closely related form, the white glaze, Yongle mark, and anhua design. Note the size (21.3 cm).
A PRISTINE TIANBAI ANHUA-DECORATED CONICAL ‘DRAGON’ BOWL, YONGLE MARK, 18TH CENTURY
Expert's note:The vessel is exceptionally thin-walled, with a wall thickness of approximately 1 mm, demonstrating the remarkable technical skill required to produce such a lightweight piece. Its flawless state of preservation makes it an exceptional rarity, as vessels of such delicate construction are seldom found in such outstanding condition.China. Thinly and delicately potted with flaring sides rising from a short straight foot and carved in remarkably fine anhua with two scaly five-clawed dragons in pursuit of flaming pearls, amid flames and lingzhi shaped clouds, applied overall with a clear glaze save for the neatly trimmed unglazed foot pad, the well with an apocryphal anhua-incised four-character mark Yongle nianzhi.Provenance: Dr. John K. Fong and Dr. Colin Johnstone of Johnstone-Fong, Inc., Philadelphia, United States, by 1985. A Swiss private collector of Chinese porcelain, acquired from the above. A copy of a letter written and signed by Dr. John K. Fong, dated 23 March 1985, describing the piece as ‘[Qianlong] copying [Yongle]’, thus confirming the dating above, accompanies the lot. The Johnstone-Fong Collection is a renowned and important collection of artworks from 17th- to 20th-century Japan and China, collected over the years by Dr. John K. Fong and his partner Dr. Colin Johnstone. Part of the collection, numbering more than five hundred objects, are now housed in the Denver Art Museum, USA. Condition: Excellent condition with only minor wear and firing irregularities.Weight: 58.7 g Dimensions: Diameter 13.4 cmLiterature comparison:Compare a Yongle prototype of the current bowl, with a Yongle nianzhi mark in seal script on the interior base, dated Yongle period, 9.9 cm diameter, in National Palace Museum, Taipei, reference number 故瓷017642N000000000.Auction result comparison:Type: Closely relatedAuction: Bonhams London, 8 May 2026, lot 779Price: GBP 8,320 or approx. EUR 9,800 converted at the time of writingDescription: A white-glazed anhua-decorated bowl, Late Qing dynastyExpert remark: Compare the closely related form, the white glaze, Yongle mark, and anhua design. Note the size (10.5 cm).Auction result comparison:Type: Closely relatedAuction: Bonhams New York, 18 March 2019, lot 544Price: USD 7,575 or approx. EUR 9,000 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writingDescription: A white-glazed anhua-decorated 'dragon' bowl, 18th centuryExpert remark: Compare the closely related form, the white glaze, Yongle mark, and anhua design. Note the size (21.3 cm).
