A ZITAN DRAGON BITONG, QIANLONG MARK & PERIOD

A CARVED ZITAN ' DRAGON' BRUSH POT, BITONG, QIANLONG MARK AND PERIOD
China, 1735-1796. Carved in relief with three five-clawed dragons, two confronting and one in the center writhing around a flaming pearl and facing straight towards the viewer, amid lingzhi-shaped clouds and above crashing waves.

Provenance: From a private collector in Munich, Germany.
Condition: Minor wear and one small chip on the lower edge, otherwise in excellent condition. The base of the brush pot as well as the interior are covered in black lacquer showing many cracks. The Qianlong mark is found on the base, the gilding of the mark has probably been renewed over time.

Weight: 818.7 g
Dimensions: Height 16.7 cm

Note the scattered crab-claw marks and rich, dark red-brown patina with a subtle luster, both typical of zitan wood. The waves and especially the dragons' scales are finely incised.

Auction result comparison: Compare with a carved zitan panel with a similar dragon and clouds, at Christie's London in Fine Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art on 13 May 2014, lot 384, sold for GBP £11,250.

紫檀如意翔龍戲珠筆筒，乾隆款及年代
中國，1735-1796。刻有三只五爪云龍，其中雙龍成對角綫兩首相望，第三隻在整中心，圍繞著一顆燃燒的珍珠。靈芝形的雲層為底，底部邊緣一圈波浪紋。

來源：德國慕尼黑私人收藏
品相：輕微磨損，下方邊緣處有一道小裂紋，除此之外品相極好。筆筒底部與筆筒内上黑漆可見細紋。底部有乾隆款，鎏金款可能曾經被翻新過。

重量：818.7 克
尺寸：高16.7 厘米

拍賣結果比較：一件有相似龍紋祥雲的紫檀雕刻屏風2014年5月13日于倫敦佳士得《中國陶瓷和工藝品》拍號384，成交價GBP £11,250。