Lot 3604. A rare doucai and iron-red 'Dragon' dish, Mark and period of Kangxi (1662-1722); 21.2 cm, 8 3/8  in. Estimate 250,000 — 300,000 HKD. Lot sold 525,000 HKD. Courtesy Sotheby's.

powerfully painted to the interior with a ferocious five-clawed dragon in iron red, its muscular limbs stretched to reach for a flaming pearl, the fierce creature leaping from tumultuous swirling waves crashing on rocks enamelled in various shades of green, the scaly sinuous body partially obscured by stylised scrolling clouds, the exterior similarly decorated with two iron-red dragons leaping from scrolling clouds, inscribed to the base with a six-character reign mark within a double circle.