Lot 112. A blue and white ‘dragon medallion’ handled cup, Kangxi mark and period (1662-1722); 7.7 cm, 3 in. Estimate 10,000 — 15,000 GBP (12,771 - 19,157 EUR). Lot sold 25,000 GBP. Photo Sotheby's.

well-potted, the deep rounded sides flanked by a pair of chilong handles, rising from a short foot to a gently flaring rim, the exterior finely painted with two medallions, each formed from a five-clawed ferocious dragon writhing amongst flames, the base with a six-character reign mark within a double circle.

Note: Cups of this charming miniature form and painted with dragon roundels are unusual, although a closely related example, with its matching saucer, in the Palace Museum, Beijing, is illustrated in Gugong bowuyuan cang. Qingdai yuyao ciqi[Qing porcelains from the imperial kilns preserved in the Palace Museum], Beijing, 2005, vol. 1, pl. 57. Finely potted cups of this type, with crisp archaistic dragon handles, were also produced with a shallow moulded band of archaistic dragons and covered on the exterior in yellow glaze during the Kangxi period; see one in the Palace Museum, Beijing, published in Kangxi. Yongzheng. Qianlong, Hong Kong, 1989, p. 164, pl. 147. 

Sotheby's. Important Chinese Art Londres, 11 mai 2016, 10:00 AM