A very fine and rare pair of early 19th century antique Chinese Imperial blue and red dragon bowls, superbly potted and painted to the exterior with two five-clawed dragons in iron-red in pursuit of flaming pearls, amongst underglazed-blue clouds above a band of stylized lotus petals also in blue, the center of bowls further decorated with a red dragon and pearl amongst blue clouds within double-concentric blue circles, the foot rings neatly finished and the bases inscribed with the four-character Hall mark of Daoguang.

NOTE : The base mark on the present bowls read "Jing-jin Tang", literally translated as the "Hall of Fine Progression", this was one of the Hall marks used during the Daoguang reign.

REFERENCE : An almost identical Jiaqing mark and period covered bowl, decorated with iron-red dragons and blue clouds, smaller in size, was included in "Exhibition of Nineteenth Century Mark and Period Porcelain", S Marchant and Son, London. Compared also a pair of red and blue dragon dishes, Daoguang marks and dated to 1850, in the Simon Kwan Collection, included in the exhibition of "Imperial Porcelain of Late Qing", Chinese University of Hong Kong 1983.

DATE : Chinese, Qing Dynasty, Hall marks and period of Daoguang (1821 - 1850).

MARK : underglazed-blue four character Hall mark in seal script on base.

SIZE : approximately 2 3/4" high, 5 5/8" diameter.

CONDITION : both bowls in perfect condition, no chips, no cracks, and no repairs.

SHIPPING : Inclusive.