A blue and white 'dragon' bowl. Jiajing mark and period. Photo: Sotheby's

the deep rounded sides rising from a short slightly tapering foot to an everted rim, painted in rich cobalt-blue tones to the interior with a ruyi medallion encircled by a classic scroll band, the exterior with four scaly five-clawed dragons each holding a pearl enclosing the single character wan, shou, qing and ping, all above a lotus lappet band at the base; 18cm., 7in. Est. 10,000—15,000 GBP. Lot Sold 61,250 GBP

Sotheby's. Fine Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art, 10 Nov 10, London www.sothebys.com