879 - Iron-red (Fanhong) vase with dragon motif and Wanli mark

Iron-red (Fanhong) vase with dragon motif and Wanli mark China, probably Kangxi period (1662–1722). Porcelain, glazed. H. 24 cm. On the base, a six-character Wanli mark in underglaze blue. Iron-red body with cobalt-blue underglaze decoration. The wall is decorated with two five-clawed dragons among lotus blossoms and curving lotus vines on a deep red ground. Condition: In good condition. Signs of age and wear. - Provenance: From a German private collection. Particularly noteworthy is the use of the rare Fanhong iron red, a coloring technique that finds its origins in the Ming Dynasty and is prized for its technical difficulty. The striking contrast between the bright red background and the cobalt-blue decoration lends the vase an exceptionally decorative presence. The depiction of two five-clawed dragons—a traditional symbol of imperial power and authority—as well as the apocryphal Wanli mark underscore the deliberate reference to highly esteemed models from the Ming period and make the piece an attractive collector’s item of Chinese porcelain art.