Chinese dragon charger sets $715,000 record in Edinburgh

Lyon & Turnbull are celebrating a new record for Chinese porcelain in Scotland, after a stunning blue and white dragon charger owned by a prisoner of war sold with impressive results on June 4.

Chinese dragon charger plate
The five toed dragon emblem was reserved for the emperor's use, making the charger of imperial origin



The plate, decorated with a five clawed blue dragon, is likely of imperial origin - a factor that surely contributed to the £427,250 ($715,050) bid that set the record.

The vendor's uncle had been a prisoner of war in Japan during the second world war, yet remained in the country following his release, becoming a successful businessman.

Returning to England, and later Scotland, in the 1950s, he brought with him a stunning collection of Chinese and Japanese works of art.

Also selling was a Chinese imperial festive summer robe that is believed to have been worn by an empress. Originating from the collection of Leonard Gow, a Glasgow shipping magnate who owned one of the most important collections of Chinese porcelain in the early 20th century, it sold for £73,250 ($122,592).

Featuring 12 characters indicating it was intended only for imperial use, the gold and silver embroidered gown is decorated with standing waves at the hem and no less than nine five-clawed dragons.

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