Kangxi period (1661-1722)

Blue and white 'kui dragon' porcelain bowl with apocryphal chenghua mark and of the kangxi period (1644-1722) With hardwood stand. The two striding dragons each in mutual pursuit and with bifurcated scrolling tails, with a scrolling lotus motif below. The interior with beribboned Double Vraja motif conjoined with a flower head.. Note: This bowl is truly an homage to the Chenghua period (1465-1487): the apocryphal six-character Chenghua mark is appropriate because the designs on both inside and out are found on Ming Chenghua period prototypes. While ferocious versions of Kui-dragons appear during the earlier Xuande period (1426-1435), the more gentle and friendly looking version seen on the present bowl almost certainly originated in the Chenghua period. An Important Chenghua mark and period stem cup with remarkably similar 3-claw˜Kui Dragons and also with a Buddhist˜baoxiang flower in its mouth, sold at Christie's Hong Kong, May 27 , 2009, lot 1807). The Double Vajra motif first surfaced in China in the Yuan Dynasty (13th century) as Lamaism (Tibetan Buddhism) began to flourish. Excavations at theJingdezhen Kilns from the late Chenghua stratum have revealed pieces decorated with the Double Vraja design. A Chenghua period bowl at the Palace Museum has 'Kui Dragons' above a scrolling lotus motif as well as the 'double Varja' motif on the interior.

Provenance: Provenance: a midwest Estate, purchased prior to 1990

Dimensions: Height: 2 3/4 in.Diameter: 6 1/4 in.

Two tight discolored hairline cracks.