A large carved coral vase. Qing dynasty, 19th century. photo courtesy Sotheby"s

elaborately carved as a dragon entwined around a bottle-form vase, both emerging from a profusion of floret-form cloud scrolls, surmounted by a flaming pearl finial, the coral of rich salmon-pink with characteristic patches of speckling and cloudy swirls (2); height 13 1/8 in., 33.3 cm. Estimate 45,000—55,000 USD. Lot Sold 56,250 USD

PROVENANCE: T. Y. Chao Collection.
Sotheby's Hong Kong, 19th May 1987, lot 371.

Sotheby's. Fine Ceramics and works of Art. 15 Sept 2010. New York www.sothebys.com