![](http://www.ecns.cn/hd/2022/11/22/a9111e40a75e476bb8bb6083ea5d250b.jpg)
A rare imperial turquoise-ground underglaze-blue and copper-red dragon moonflask of the Emperor Qianlong (1736-1796) of Qing Dynasty is on display at Hong Kong's Bonhams, Nov. 21, 2022. (Photo: China News Service/Suo Youwei)
This flat-sided full-bodied flask - round like the moon, hence its name "moonflask" in English and "baoyueping" or "bianhu" in Chinese - is also traditionally known as a "pilgrim’s flask" in the West, since it takes its form from a Middle Eastern prototype for water flasks, which were often carried by travelers.
![](http://www.ecns.cn/hd/2022/11/22/b75d4958d40141e9823a53ae9072810e.jpg)
A rare imperial turquoise-ground underglaze-blue and copper-red dragon moonflask of the Emperor Qianlong (1736-1796) of Qing Dynasty is on display at Hong Kong's Bonhams, Nov. 21, 2022. (Photo: China News Service/Suo Youwei)
![](http://www.ecns.cn/hd/2022/11/22/12e6887b95bd46d4a6f3952d2eca76e6.jpg)
A rare imperial turquoise-ground underglaze-blue and copper-red dragon moonflask of the Emperor Qianlong (1736-1796) of Qing Dynasty is on display at Hong Kong's Bonhams, Nov. 21, 2022. (Photo: China News Service/Suo Youwei)