71 - A BLUE AND WHITE PORCELAIN ‘DRAGONS’ SNUFF BOTTLE JINGDEZHEN, 1780-1850

A BLUE AND WHITE PORCELAIN ‘DRAGONS’ SNUFF BOTTLE JINGDEZHEN, 1780-1850 To Be Sold Without Reserve Of cylindrical form with a slightly flared cylindrical neck, painted in underglaze-blue with two four-clawed dragons chasing a flaming pearl amidst formalized flames and clouds, the neck with a band of formalized lingzhi heads above a double ring, the base with a similar double-ring border, the foot also painted with a third four-clawed dragon, also amidst formalized clouds and flames Height: 6.5cm Provenance: Suzanne Weisfield, Seattle (April 2000) Hugh Moss (HK) Ltd, 27th October 2000, (a copy of the original invoice available) The four-clawed dragons here suggest that this was made for an ennobled Courtier permitted to use this lesser beast on his garb, rather than for a member of the Imperial family, who would rate five claws. It is unusual, however, to find the additional decoration on the foot Ω This Lot was imported from outside of the UK, under the Temporary Admission regime 5% import VAT will be charged on the ‘hammer” and 20% VAT will be charged on the ‘buyer’s premium