A blue and white fish-bowl. Wanli mark and period. photo courtesy Sotheby's

stoutly potted with steeply rounded sides, painted in underglaze-blue of soft tone with a continuous scene of aquatic birds swimming amongst flowering lotus, arrow grass and other weeds, all below a border of florets sprinkled on stylized waves at the mouthrim interrupted by a cartouche with a six-character Wanli reign mark, the top edge further painted with a detached band of foliate scrolls; diameter 22 in., 55.7 cm - Estimate 80,000 - 120,000 USD

Sotheby's. Fine Ceramics and works of Art. 15 Sept 2010. New York www.sothebys.com