Lot 135. A pair of blue and white and iron-red 'dragon' dishes, Seal marks and period of Yongzheng (1723-1735). Diameter 6⅜ in., 16.3 cm. Estimate: 20,000 - 30,000 USD. Lot sold: 52,920 USD. © Sotheby's 2021

each with rounded sides rising to a slightly everted rim, the center finely painted with an iron-red dragon chasing a 'flaming pearl' amidst cobalt-blue cloud scrolls, the motif repeated at the exterior with two iron-red dragons all between double-line borders, the base with a six-character seal mark in black enamel.

Note: See a pair of smaller dishes of this type published in Xiamenshi Bowuguan cangpin jicui [A selection from the collection of the Xiamen Museum], Beijing, 2007, pl. 122. Another similarly decorated bowl sold in these rooms, 19th March 1997, lot 311, and again at Christie's Hong Kong, 27th May 2021, lot 2953.

Sotheby's. Important Chinese Art, New York, 21 September 2021