Lot 3702. A blue and white 'dragon' dish, Zhiyuantang zhi mark, Qing dynasty, Qianlong period (1736-1795); 16.5 cm., 6 1/2  in. Estimate 80,000 — 120,000  HKD. Lot sold 175,000 HKD (20,800 EUR). © Sotheby's

the shallow rounded sides rising from a short foot to an everted rim, the interior vividly painted in cobalt-blue with a five-clawed dragon writhing amidst flames and cloud swirls, within a double-line border repeated at the rim, the exterior similarly decorated with a pair of ferocious dragons in mutual pursuit striding amidst cloud swirls, the base inscribed with a four-character hallmark Zhiyuantang zhi within a double-square.

Note: Zhiyuan Tang is recorded by Gerald Davison, The New & Revised Handbook of Marks on Chinese Ceramics, Sparkford, 2010, no. 1112, who translates it as 'Hall of Extended Remoteness', pinpointing it as a hall mark used in the Qianlong period.

Sotheby's. Important Chinese Works of Art, Hong Kong, 07 april 2015