Longqing six-character mark and of the periodThe shallow rounded sides supported on a tapered foot, the interior decorated with a medallion enclosing two five-clawed dragons writhing sinuously amid ruyi-shaped clouds and flames in mutual pursuit of a blue 'flaming pearl' in the centre, one dragon with an underglaze-blue body and an iron-red serrated spine and the other decorated in reverse, an iron-red double line bordering the medallion and rim, the exterior similarly decorated with four further striding five-clawed dragons in red, blue, yellow and green. 33cm (13in) diam.