Lot 2119. An underglaze-blue and yellow-enamelled 'Dragon' dish, Kangxi six-character mark within double circles and of the period (1662-1722); 10 in. (25.2 cm.) diam. Estimate HKD 1,200,000 - HKD 1,800,000. Price realised HKD 2,190,000. © Christie's Image Ltd 2013

The dish is potted with shallow rounded sides rising to a slightly everted rim, and decorated on the interior with a fierce five-clawed dragon leaping amidst clouds and flaming scrolls in pursuit of a 'flaming pearl'. The well is similarly decorated with two further dragons repeated on the exterior above a petal lappet border, box.

Compare to a Kangxi-marked dish of this pattern in the Palace Museum, Beijing, illustrated in Qingdai yuyao ciqi, vol.1, Beijing, pp. 138-141, no. 36; one illustrated in the Tokyo National Museum Catalogue, Japan, 1965, no. 615; and another illustrated in Mayuyama Seventy Years, vol. 1, no. 1047. 

Christie's. Imperial Sale; Important Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art, 29 May 2013, Hong Kong, HKCEC Grand Hall