Lot 3133. A fine pair of small iron-red decorated 'Dragon' cups, Seal marks and period of Qianlong (1736-1795); 6.2 cm., 2 3/8 in. Estimate 400,000 — 600,000 HKD. Lot sold 625,000 HKD (58,839 EUR). Photo: Sotheby's

each with deep delicately potted sides rising to a slighlty everted rim, finely decorated on the exterior in iron-red with a pair of dragons playfully striding through flames and clouds above crashing waves, all between double-line borders, inscribed on the base with a six-character reign mark in underglaze blue.

Note: Similar cups can be seen in various museum collections, for example see one in the Nanjing Museum, illustrated in Treasures in the Royalty: The Official Kiln Porcelain of the Chinese Qing Dynasty, Shanghai, 2003, p. 269. A comparable pair of cups was sold in these rooms, 8th April 2011, lot 3134.