A RARE CHINESE IMPERIAL GREEN ENAMELLED 'DRAGON' DISH

SIX CHARACTER ZHENGDE MARK IN UNDERGLAZE BLUE AND OF THE PERIOD 1506-1521

The shallow body decorated to the interior with a central medallion containing a five-clawed scaly dragon, writhing amongst clouds and flame wisps, the reverse with two further dragons to the rim, a paper label for Bluett & Sons London, 19.8cm.

Provenance: purchased as part of a pair by Bluett & Sons from auctioneers Foster & Cranfield, 4th May 1932, lot 318, for £15:10. The collection of Mrs Basil Drewe, purchased from Bluett & Sons, 8th December 1933, for £35, possibly as a Christmas present, and thence by descent.

Cf. J Harrison-Hall, Ming Ceramics in the British Museum, pp.208-209, nos.8:33-8:35 where other examples of the same date are illustrated; see also R L Hobson, Eumorfopoulos Collection, Vol.4, pl.30, cat. nos. D69 & D70. For an example sold at Sotheby's see The Meiyintang Collection Part IV, 9th October 2012, lot 21, where it is noted another dish of this design from the British Rail Pension Fund was sold on four further separate occasions at Sotheby's; 13th December 1966, lot 73; 1st July 1969, lot 149; 17th November 1970, lot 76; and 16th May 1989, lot 27.