Bowl with Dragons Chasing Flaming Jewels

The decoration of this large bowl, described as a donburi on one side of its box, is executed entirely in molded and carved relief under a creamy, pink-tinged translucent glaze. The main motif is a pair of four-clawed dragons pursuing flaming jewels. As is standard for this design, the beasts are surrounded by wisps of cloud, and a foliate pattern runs around the bottom of the basin. A geometric pattern circles the exterior of the footring. The white-on-white design makes the bowl subtle and elegant.