For the serious sleeping-dragon collector, this monumental piece by Master Lian Hong Da delivers size, weight and dramatic kiln character on an entirely different scale.
A sculpted dragon rests in a sweeping coil around the interior, its long body encircling the central well as though guarding it. The raised form is covered in a rich partridge-feather glaze, with dense black markings flowing through shades of honey, amber, golden brown and burnt orange. Under direct light, the glossy surface reveals incredible depth and movement across both the dragon and the surrounding bowl.
The pattern continues uninterrupted across the broad exterior, where elongated feather-like markings descend toward the base. Several substantial kiln tears gathered along the underside during firing, preserving the natural movement of the glaze and giving this piece unmistakable kiln-born character. These are original firing features rather than later damage.
Measuring approximately 5.5 inches in diameter and weighing an impressive 25 ounces, this is far beyond the scale and presence of an ordinary tea cup. It is a hefty sculptural bowl made to be handled, explored and prominently displayed.
If you love sleeping dragons, this is the one that dominates the entire collection.
