A rare Chinese blue and yellow dragon bowl Qianlong six character seal mark and of the period 1736-95, the exterior painted with two scaly dragons pursuing flaming pearls amidst clouds above a band of lotus petals, the interior with a dragon roundel, 13.2cm.

Cf. C Ho and B Bronson, Splendors of China's Forbidden City, The Glorious Reign of Emperor Qianlong, p.204, pl.252 for a similar bowl where it states that this design, with a combination of colours and border details were specifically for a fifth-rank consort, pin.