Royal Crown Derby. Dragon of Good Fortune. MAGNIFICENT Ltd Ed. Gold Stopper. Box

  

Rich azure, dark green, dark red, coral pink and white. Lavishly adorned with 22-carat gold gilding. Oriental dragons aren't the same as the evil, dangerous, fire breathing dragons of Western culture. They represent a controller of weather and water sources crucial for agriculture symbolising rain and bountiful harvests.

They are powerful, lucky and noble but usually benevolent. As Chinese emperors were considered to be the sons of dragons only they could wear or use the dragon symbol; not the case anymore.

Chinese dragons live at the bottom of lakes, seas, and rivers. The Azure Dragon as this piece depicts with its white horns, eyes and ears is said to be unable to fly but can control time, was used on the national flag of the Qing Dynasty which ceased in 1912 - famously depicted in the film "The Last Emperor".

The Dragon of Good Fortune (the Azure Dragon), with its colours of blue and green represent nature, health, healing, peace and growth, and the approach of Spring. Limited edition produced to mark the start of the new Millennium.

Produced exclusively for Peter Jones China of Wakefield and Leeds. Certificate and Original Box in excellent condition.