Lot 308. A rare amber 'Dragon' washer, Qing dynasty, late 18th-early 19th century. Length 6 1/2  in., 16.5 cm. Estimate 20,000 — 30,000 USD. Lot sold 77,500 USD. Photo Sotheby's

carved from a single piece of amber, of octalobed form, raised on a shallow conforming foot, carved in relief on the interior with a pair of confronted dragons contesting a 'flaming pearl', the mouth rim decorated with four evenly spaced stylized butterflies, each continuing to the exterior to form loop handles, the amber of a transparent golden honey color, carved wood stand (2). 

Note: High-quality amber carvings are rare, not least because of the extreme fragility of the material, and this washer is a particularly large example. See, a similarly carved amber washer sold Christie's Hong Kong, 26th April 2004, lot 920. 

Sotheby's. Important Chinese Works of Art, New York, 17 mars 2015