Lot 1345. A small soft-paste porcelain moon flask, 18th-19th century; 8 in. (20.2 cm.) high. Estimate USD 6,000 - USD 8,000. Price realised USD 16,250. © Christie's Images Ltd 2013 

Each convex side is filled with the incised, twisting body of a three-clawed scaly dragon, and the narrow sides are incised with clouds below the arched handles that flank the bulbous neck. The vase is covered overall with a crackle-suffused, opaque glaze of ivory color. An apocryphal six-character mark, Da Song Xining nian zhi (made during the reign of Xining of the Song dynasty), is inscribed under the glaze on the base.

Provenance: Acquired in New York before 1960.

Christie's. Fine Chinese Ceramics & Works of Art, New York, 19 - 20 September 2013