Lot 267. A green-enameled 'Dragon' jar, Qianlong seal mark and period (1736-1795). Height 8 1/2 in., 21 cm. Estimate 60,000-80,000 USD. Lot sold 68,500 USD. Photo Sotheby's

the ovoid body painted in underglaze blue and enameled in green with two striding fiveclawed dragons each in fierce pursuit of a 'flaming pearl' amidst swirling clouds and fire scrolls encircled by the bajixiang, the 'Eight Buddhist Emblems' around the shoulder and above a row of upright lappets, seal mark in underglaze blue, with wood cover (2). 

Provenance: : Collection of Dikran Garabed Kelekian (1868-1951).
Collection of Nanette B. Kelekian, until 2005.

Note: This imperial pattern is well represented in museum collections around the world. See Porcelains of the National Palace Museum, Enamelled Ware of the Ch'ing Dynasty, vol. II, Taipei, 1969, pl. 13 and another is included in Chinese Porcelain in the S.C. Ko Tianminlou Collection, Hong Kong, 1987, pl. 114.  Compare an example from the collection of W.W. Winkworth illustrated in Soame Jenyns, Later Chinese Porcelain, London, 1951, pl. XCI, fig. 2 sold in our Hong Kong rooms 29th November 1977, lot 128 and again 1st November 1999, lot 463 and another jar sold in our Paris rooms 13th June 2012, lot 175.

Sotheby's. Fine Chinese Ceramics & Works of Art, New York, 11 september 2012