Ch'ing Dynasty, 1723-1735 AD. A pair of shallow porcelain dishes with white ground, decorated in enamels in the 'Doucai' style showing a five-claw dragon chasing a sacred pearl internally with cloud scrolls to inner rim and swirling waves and cloud scrolls to underside; six-character mark and of the period seal in underglaze blue of emperor Yong-Zheng (Yung-cheng) to bases. 166 grams total, 12cm diameter. (4 3/4") Property of a London collector; acquired Hong Kong, 1970s. The Chinese term doucai means joined colours and was technically difficult and required two firings: the design's outline is painted in under glaze blue, the piece is glazed, then fired at a high temperature. The outlines were then coloured in with red, yellow, green and aubergine over glaze enamels, and the object was fired again at a lower temperature. [2]

Very fine condition. Rare.