Bidspirit auction | Ming Wanli Reign: Five-color Glaze

Ming Wanli Reign: Five-color Glaze Bowl with Dragon Design - This bowl has a flared rim and smoothly rounded walls tapering gently to a neatly turned foot — full, dignified, and perfectly proportioned. Set against a luminous, fine white glaze, underglaze blue lines are firm and assured, enlivened by vivid, brilliant enamels. Inside, a red dragon coils within a double ring — powerful and sinewy, scales and claws spread, manes picked out in blue, surrounded by flames and billowing clouds in commanding presence. The interior walls carry simple floral sprays, elegantly spaced. Externally, below the rim runs a band of blossoming branches in fresh hues; the main field depicts animated figures in flowing robes amid pines, lingzhi, and rocks, rendered in rich, harmonious colour. Key-fret and ruyi-head borders frame the composition near the foot. The base bears a six-character underglaze blue reign mark “Wanli Period of the Great Ming Dynasty” in regular script. The painting is lively and well-balanced, the five-colour palette brilliant yet restrained. An exhibition label is included; the piece has passed through the Rian Arts Collection, offering documented provenance.