An underglaze-blue and yellow-glazed 'dragon ' dish.  Qianlong Seal Mark And Period. Photo Sotheby's

reserved on the underglaze-blue ground with a well-painted central medallion containing a striding dragon in pursuit of a 'flaming pearl' among stylized clouds and flames, encircled around the cavetto with a frieze of two further dragons in similar pursuit, repeated on the underside above a band of radiating lappets, the decoration all in a translucent lemonyellow glaze, the base and mouth rim glazed white, seal mark in underglaze blue. Diameter 9 3/4 in., 25 cm. Estimate 40,000-50,000 USD. Lot Sold: 104,500 USD

PROVENANCE: Collection of James and Phyllis Rosati, acquired between 1947 -1949 when Mr. Rosati was stationed in post-war Japan.

Sotheby's. Fine Chinese Ceramics & Works of Art. New York | 20 Mar 2012 www.sothebys.com