A rare Imperial famille verte coral-ground bowl - Yongzheng four-character mark and of the period

The gently rounded sides flaring out from a short straight-cut foot, the exterior finely and vividly enamelled with three detached peony sprays, the delicate blooms with frilly-edged petals applied with a rich blue enamel and framing iron-red shaded centres, the arched leaves enamelled in bright green, all reserved on a rich coral-red ground, the interior glazed white (hairline crack). 12cm (4¾in) diam. - Sold for £7,500 plus Premium and tax

Footnote: It is rare to find a coral-red bowl of this form with a four-character nianzhi mark, although a number of bowls with yuzhi mark are recorded. See a pair of yuzhi marked bowls in the Chang Foundation, illustrated in Selected Chinese Ceramics from the Han to Qing Dynasties, T'aipei, 1993, pl.142, and another pair sold Christie's Hong Kong, 28 November 2005, lot 1347.

Bonhams. Fine Asian Art, 6 Nov 2006. New Bond Street