Lot 326. A blue and white 'dragon' dish, Guangxu mark and period (1875-1908). Estimate 2,000 — 3,000 USD. Photo: Sotheby's.

the shallow rounded sides rising from a short tapered foot to a flared rim, painted to the interior with a five-clawed dragon writhing among flame wisps in pursuit of a 'flaming pearl', the exterior similarly decorated with two striding dragons, the base with a six-character mark in underglaze blue. Diameter 6 in., 15.1 cm

Provenance: Beijing collector, acquired in the 1940s.
Gifted to a Canadian missionary family, China, 1970s and thence by descent.

Sotheby's. Important Chinese Art, New York, 13 sept. 2016, 10:30 AM