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Chinese Blue and White 'Dragon' Bowl with Kangxi Mark

A Chinese blue and white porcelain bowl featuring a five-clawed dragon pursuit of a flaming pearl, with a 6-character mark on the base. - view 1
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Estimated value

$800 - $2,500

Rarity

Scarce(6/10)

Category

Asian Art

Era

Late 19th Century to Early 20th Century

Origin

🇨🇳 China

Authenticity

Uncertain(35%)
5

CHINESE BLUE AND WHITE 'DRAGON' BOWL WITH KANGXI MARK: IDENTIFICATION

A fine-textured porcelain bowl decorated in underglaze cobalt blue. The exterior wall features two five-clawed dragons pursuing flaming pearls amidst cruciform clouds and stylized flames. The base bears a six-character apocryphal mark in kaishu script reading 'Kangxi Renzi Zhonghe Tang Zhi' (Made for the Hall of Central Harmony in the Renzi year of Kangxi), which corresponds to 1672. The cobalt shows characteristic 'heaping and piling' effects associated with 17th-century revival styles.

Compare with other Asian art pieces in the archive: Chinese Archaistic Carved Jade Figure, Hongshan/Shang Style, Balinese Art Deco Wooden Sculpture of a Winged Celestial (Kinnari), Chinese Archaistic 'Taotie' and 'Chilong' Jade Pendant.

DYNASTY & PROVENANCE

The 'Zhonghe Tang' (Hall of Central Harmony) was a private hall for the Kangxi Emperor within the Forbidden City. Porcelain bearing this specific cyclical date (Renzi - 1672) represents the early transition period of the Qing Dynasty, when the Jingdezhen imperial kilns were being reorganized. ...
The 'Zhonghe Tang' (Hall of Central Harmony) was a private hall for the Kangxi Emperor within the Forbidden City. Porcelain bearing this specific cyclical date (Renzi - 1672) represents the early transition period of the Qing Dynasty, when the Jingdezhen imperial kilns were being reorganized. While the mark suggests a 17th-century origin, such imperial marks were frequently applied to high-quality 19th-century and Republic Period (1912-1949) revivals produced for the burgeoning export and internal collector markets.

COLLECTOR NOTES

1

The 1672 cyclical date (Renzi) corresponds to the 11th year of the Kangxi reign, a specific period of early Qing porcelain innovation.

SCARCITY

Scarce80-90%
CommonLegendary

Genuinely harder to find. Perhaps only dozens come to market annually. Collectors actively watch for these pieces.

Rarity 6/10. Curiosa currently catalogues 5 asian items at rarity 6 or higher.

Typical Characteristics

  • Dozens per year at market
  • Documented provenance valued
  • Active collector pursuit

Confidence Factors

  • The 'Zhonghe Tang' mark is one of the most frequently faked marks in the Chinese ceramic market.
  • The cobalt blue saturation appears slightly too uniform for 17th-century production.
  • Lack of 'mushikui' (moth-eaten) rim characteristics commonly found in early Kangxi wares.

Expert review recommended. Consider consulting a specialist before making purchasing decisions.

How does authenticity detection work?

ASIAN ART SCHOLAR'S TAKE

Ceramics Historian & Kiln Specialist

Ceramics Expert

Identification of the piece as a high-quality revival is likely given the cleanliness of the base and mark execution, though it requires physical inspection of the body's 'orange peel' texture to confirm exact era.

KEY EVIDENCE

  • 1Six-character kaishu mark refers to the 'Zhonghe Tang' (Hall of Central Harmony).
  • 2Presence of five claws on the dragon indicates imperial styling.
  • 3The footrim is neatly finished and shows a 'v' shaped profile common in Qing dynasty wares.
  • 4Cyclical date Renzi (1672) is historically significant but often replicated in later periods.

UNCERTAINTIES

  • •The blue wash on the dragon's head lacks the nuanced 'masterstroke' shading of authentic early Kangxi pieces.
  • •Cleanliness of the footrim suggests a lack of sufficient age-related oxidation for a 350-year-old object.

WHAT WOULD IMPROVE CERTAINTY

  • →Perform a 'tap test' with a wooden dowel to check for high-pitched resonance indicating a sound body without hidden cracks.
  • →Examine the 'Zhonghe Tang' mark under 10x magnification to see if the pigment sits under the glaze or shows modern synthetic consistency.
  • →Verify the translucency by holding a strong light source against the side to observe the clarity of the porcelain paste.

CONDITION & GRADE

Condition

Glaze appears intact with no visible crazing; the footrim shows minor shelf wear and iron-spotting consistent with kiln firing on sandy supports.

ASIAN ART VALUATION

$800 - $2,500

Updated: May 11, 2026

Who buys this

Specialist collectors of Qing Dynasty blue and white porcelain and scholarly 'hall-marked' wares.

What increases value

  • •Accuracy of the mark calligraphy compared to known 1672 examples
  • •Presence of the five-clawed dragon motif
  • •Condition of the rim (absence of 'flea bites' or chips)

What lowers value

  • •Attribution as a 20th-century copy would reduce value by 80%
  • •Hidden hairlines or professional restoration detectable only under UV light

What makes top-tier examples

  • •Vibrant 'sapphire' blue tones characteristic of true Kangxi cobalt
  • •Thin, translucent 'eggshell' quality to the porcelain walls

Grade & condition

Glaze integrity, clarity of the cobalt decoration, and authenticity of the cyclical mark.

Rarity & demand

ScarceModerate demandModerate liquidity
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For informational purposes only, not a formal appraisal.

FROM THE CABINET OF

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