A YELLOW-GROUND 'DRAGON' VASE, China, 19th / 20th century

With a globular body and long neck with flared rim, it is beautifully engraved with two five-clawed dragons chasing the flaming pearl between clouds and waves; on the base of the neck it is decorated with a ruyi band above which are carved stylised banana leaves in a standing position. In the centre of the base is the six-character apocryphal mark in blue underneath the cover of Emperor Jiajing.