Vintage Chinese Green Dragon Porcelain Dish Bowl Chenghua Mark 5.5" Hairline

Late 19th / Early 20th Century.

Chinese porcelain dish featuring two green enameled dragons chasing a flaming pearl among clouds surrounding a central Shou (longevity) character. White glazed body with scalloped gilt-edged rim. 

Motif: Dragon, Shou Symbol

Base bears a four-character handwritten iron-red Chenghua mark reading Chenghua Nian Zhi (“Made during the Chenghua period”). Presented as a decorative reign mark only; not a guarantee of Ming dynasty date, as later decorative wares often bear earlier marks.

Measurement: 5.5 inches diameter x 1 inch deep

Condition: Very good antique condition with age-related wear.  One hairline crack (shown in photo). No chips or repairs. Slight loss to gilt edge. Please review all photos carefully for condition details.

DETAILS:

Two Green Dragons: represent strength, imperial authority, and good fortune. In Chinese mythology, green dragons are specifically associated with grow and renewal.

Flaming Pearls: The small pinkish-red circles are "flaming pearls," which symbolize wisdom, enlightenment, and spiritual energy. The dragons are shown "chasing" these pearls, a metaphor for the constant pursuit of knowledge.

Three red "happiness" bats are painted on underside in iron-red enamel. Red Bats (Hong Fu): A red bat is particularly auspicious because "red" (hong) sounds like the word for "vast." Therefore, a red bat symbolizes "vast fortune" or "happiness as high as the sky". Bats are often painted on the underside of a dish to represent luck "coming from behind" or being omnipresent.

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Shipping: Carefully packed and shipped with tracking and insurance.

Returns: Returns accepted only if a significant flaw has been overlooked in the description.  

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