A ‘NINE DRAGONS’ PLAQUE, PROBABLY IMPERIAL, MID-QING DYNASTYChina, 1750-1850. Of rectangular form, meticulously decorated in underglaze-blue with ‘heaping and piling’, featuring nine dragons painted in iron-red amid scrolling vines issuing lingzhi fungi and lily flowers. Each dragon is shown in a different pose and with individual features: The central dragon with a bifurcated tail and biting a lingzhi fungus, flanked by two dragons, one with two horns, the other front facing. The lower row featuring a winged dragon, a dragon with a flaming tail, and another dragon with a bifurcated tail. The upper row depicting two dragons with bifurcated tails centered by a two horned dragon. All within a delicately painted key-fret border.Provenance: British trade.Condition: Very good condition with minor wear to the iron-red and manufacturing flaws including pitting, firing flaws, dark spots, and light surface scratches. The hardwood frame with expected minor age cracks and nicks.Weight: 5,1 kgDimensions: Size 50.4 x 49.8 cmWith a matching hardwood frame. (2)The number nine is considered auspicious in Chinese astrology and folk beliefs. Representing the fullest expression of yang, nine is closely associated with heaven in that it evokes infinity, partly because it was the product of three times three, the most basic unit of three being heaven, earth, and man, and partly because the number nine was homophone with the word ‘jiu’ meaning eternity.The most prestigious decorative motif for the Chinese imperial court in the Qing dynasty is the Imperial dragon - the symbol of the Son of Heaven, the Emperor himself. In this case there are nine dragons, an association for the nine sons of the Dragon King. This use of the sacred number nine reinforces the imperial connection and suggests that the piece was intended for use within the Imperial household.Literatureparison:Compare a related iron-red and underglaze-blue ‘nine dragon’ charger, Yongzheng period, sold at Sotheby’s Hong Kong, 8 October 2012, lot 125.pare further a large cinnabar lacquer ‘nine dragon’ screen, Qianlong period, sold at Sotheby’s Hong Kong, 10 April 2008, lot 2827.pare also a yellow-ground silk embroidered ‘nine dragons’ Kang cushion cover, circa 1800, sold at Christie’s London, 15 May 2008, lot 100.pare a large archaistic rhinoceros’ horn ‘nine dragon’ libation cup, 17th century, sold at Christie’s London, 10 May 2011, lot 13.pare also a pale greenish-white jade ‘nine-dragon’ brush washer, 18th century, Christie’s New York, 23 March 2012, lot 1962.清代中期青花礬紅九龍紋屏，或爲御用中國，1750-1850年。長方形，青花釉下彩，礬紅彩九條龍，四周纏枝花紋地。每條龍姿勢各不同，中央的龍尾巴分叉，口啣靈芝；兩側的兩條龍，一條有兩個角，另一條面向前方；下排有一條帶翅膀的龍，一條帶火焰尾巴的龍和另一條帶分叉尾巴的龍；上排描繪了兩條尾巴分叉的龍，中央是一條雙角龍。布局疏密得宜，氣势逼人。