A very rare blue and white pear-shaped vase, yuhuchunping. Yuan dynasty (1279-1368) Image 2009 Christie's Ltd

Freely painted to the body in deep purplish tones with a dignitary wearing long flowing robes in an outdoor setting, the reverse with a full grown buck, divided by rocky outcrops issuing foliage and below stylised cloud scrolls and mountain peaks, 10 3/4in. (27.5 cm.) high. Price Realized HK$980,000 ($127,054)

元 青花人物圖玉壺春瓶

Provenance: Previously sold at Christie's Hong Kong, 25 October 1993, lot 715

Notes: Human subjects are rarely found on Yuan blue and white porcelain. A preference for symmetry and the novelty of secular themes may have something to do with this, though earlier Cizhou pieces employed a number of human themes. 'The Romance of the Three Kingdoms', Sanguo Yanyi, became highly popular at this time, and was adapted for blue and white decoration; see Chinese Art Under the Mongols, Cleveland 1968, Catalogue, no. 139. Examples with further lotus bands around the base and neck are in the Idemitsu Art Gallery, Tokyo, illustrated in Sekai Toji Zenshu, Shogakukan Series, vol. 13, colour pl. 59; another in the Umezaqa collection is illustrated by M. Medley, Yuan Porcelain and Stoneware, no. 38A.

Compare also with a vase sold at Christie's London, 6 June 1988, lot 147 and another sold at Christie's Hong Kong, 18 March 1991, lot 517.

Christie's. Important Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art. 1 December 2009. Hong Kong www.christies.com