Bowl with dragons, one of a pair (pair with B60P1255)

This bowl exemplifies the striking harmony of drawing and color that Kangxi potters achieved in underglaze-copper red. The interior bottom is occupied by a five-clawed dragon whirling in a medallion, a design that is repeated at five intervals on the exterior. One remarkable characteristic of this type of bowl is seen in the abandonment of copper pigment washes, and the use instead, of elaborate linear work. The refinement of the lines in these drawings exposes each red stroke which, by means of an assertive brush movement, deeply adhered to the white, thin body of the bowl.