Lot 224. A rare doucai 'Dragon' dish, Yongzheng six-character mark in underglaze blue and of the period (1723-1735), 7 7/8 in. (20 cm.) diam.  Estimate GBP 20,000 - GBP 30,000. Price realised GBP 97,875. © Christie's Images Ltd 2013

The dish is enamelled to the interior with a ferocious, front-facing dragon in pursuit of the flaming pearl and surrounded by vaporous clouds. The wide rim is decorated with smaller dragons in underglaze-blue also in pursuit of flaming pearls. The exterior is finely decorated with phoenixes in mid-flight amidst vaporous clouds.