This has a green ground reserved with two aubergine five-clawed dragons pursuing flaming pearls among cloud scrolls, the ground of a washed pale green colour. The narrow foot rim has an aubergine key pattern. The interior has a plain white glaze. The convex base has a spindly six-character Wanli reign mark within a double circle.

This belongs to a rare group of Wanli bowls with various coloured grounds. The only other recorded example with a green ground was in the du Boulay Collection at Bonhams, 10 November 2003, lot 129. When describing the aubergine ground bowl in the British Museum, Jessica Harrison-Hall notes that “the white porcelain body has been exploited as a third colour”.

Literature: Anthony du Boulay, The Duberly Collection of Chinese Art at Winchester College (Winchester, 2019), p. 50; Anthony du Boulay, Chinese Porcelain (London, 1963), pl. 43 (1971 ed. pl. 39)

Provenance: Bequeathed as part of the Duberly Collection, 1978; purchased by Major Montagu and Lady Eileen Duberly from John Sparks, 17 July 1957 (£450)

Location: Treasury, Gallery 2