A green and yellow-ground 'dragon' bowl. Qianlong Seal Mark And Period.  Photo Sotheby's

the steep, rounded sides rising to an everted rim, supported on a well-finished foot, decorated on the exterior with a pair of incised dragons among wispy clouds and flames in pursuit of 'flaming pearls' below a foliate scroll and above a ruyi border, the interior with a shou medallion within a single-line border, the design throughout picked out in a brilliant translucent green enamel on a bright yellow ground. Diameter 4 in., 10.2 cm. Estimate 12,000-15,000 USD

Sotheby's. Fine Chinese Ceramics & Works of Art. New York. 14 september 2011 www.sothebys.com