Lot 2235. A Longquan celadon carved and moulded 'Dragon' dish, Yuan dynasty (1279-1368); 14 1/4 in. (36.3 cm.) diam. Estimate HKD 100,000 - HKD 150,000. Price realised HKD 200,000. © Christie's Images Ltd 2013

The dish is heavily potted with gently rounded sides rising from a tapered foot to a flat everted rim, and sprig-moulded on the centre of the interior with a writhing scaly dragon in pursuit of a flaming pearl, encircled by a band of freely carved foliage scroll around the cavetto. The exterior is carved and moulded with petal lappets radiating from the foot. The dish is covered overall with an olive-green glaze with the exception of the foot, Japanese wood box.

Note: Compare the present dish to two almost identical examples, one in the Topkapi Saray Museum, Istanbul, illustrated by Regina Krahl, Chinese Ceramics in the Topkapi Saray Museum, Istabul, vol. I, p. 256, no. 62, the other in the British Museum, illustrated in Oriental Ceramics: The World's Great Collection, vol. 5, Tokyo, 1981, no. 132. 

Christie's. Imperial Sale. Important Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art, 29 May 2013, Hong Kong, HKCEC Grand Hall