Dragon box with foot, Yueyao, Song dynasty

Ceramic, with cold-carved decoration on the lid, depicting a coiled dragon surrounded by a border of arabesques and a double ring. The lid is circular and rests on an open-footed vessel. The piece is covered with a celadon-green-ochre glaze that concentrates in the recesses of the decoration and makes it stand out. On the base there are marks from processing and firing in the kiln.

The designation '越窑' Yueyao refers to the Yue kiln-fired wares, which were specialists in the production of celadon-hued glazed wares.

Height: 5.20 cm, diameter of lid: 12.60 cm, diameter of base: 10 cm

Provenance: European private collection.