A fine and very rare pair of 19th century Chinese famille-verte enameled porcelain soup bowls, delicately potted with wide splayed rims, finely enameled to the center with image of a Buddhist figure with detail picked-out in gold, seated around three five-clawed dragons enameled in green, white and iron-red, the rim further decorated with two pairs of dragons contesting flaming pearls, the reverse glazed white, the base inscribed within a rectangular cartouche the six-character Ming dynasty Xuande reign mark in seal script, all surrounded by a pair of iron-red dragons and pearls amongst flame scrolls.

NOTE : The decoration of Buddhist images on Chinese porcelain is extremely rare, the combination of Buddhist figure and green dragons design on the present bowls is indeed most unusual.

DATE : Chinese, Qing Dynasty, late 19th century.

MARK : iron-red six-character Xuande yuzhi mark within rectangle on base.

SIZE : approximately 10" (25.5 cm) diameter.

CONDITION : one bowl in perfect condition, second bowl has a small and very faint star hairlines to the center and a tiny pinhead size rim glaze nib. No cracks or any other damages, and no repairs.

SHIPPING : Inclusive.