A CHINESE IMPERIAL IRON-RED 'DRAGON' WINE CUP

A CHINESE IMPERIAL IRON-RED 'DRAGON' WINE CUP

SIX CHARACTER TONGZHI MARK AND OF THE PERIOD 1862-74

The deep body flaring at the rim, painted with two dragons chasing flaming pearls amidst stylised flames, with crashing waves encircling the foot, the design contained between simple iron-red bands, the base with the reign mark in underglaze blue, 6cm dia.

Provenance: from the collection of Mrs Elizabeth Walter, née Hall (d.2021).

Cf. Marchant, 90th Anniversary Exhibition of Qing Porcelain from Private Collections, p.95, no.48 for a pair of Tongzhi cups of the same design; see also The British Museum, registration no.PDF B711 for another Tongzhi mark and period example on loan from the Sir Percival David Foundation of Chinese Art; see also the Victoria & Albert Museum, accession no.803-1883 for a further example.