Lot 710. A pair of blue and white 'dragon' dishes, Qianlong marks and period (1736-1795). Estimate 3,000 — 5,000, USD. Lot sold 23,750 USD. Photo: Sotheby's.  

each with shallow rounded sides rising to an everted rim, painted to the interior with a central medallion enclosing a five-clawed dragon writhing among flames reaching for a 'flaming pearl' within a double-line border repeated at the rim, the reverse with two dragons striding in similar pursuit, the base with a six-character seal mark in underglaze blue (2). Diameter 6 3/4  in., 17.2 cm 

Provenance: Sotheby's London, 17th November 1998, lot 205.