A pair of  Clair-de-lune-glazed saucer dishes. Yongzheng Marks And Period. Photo Sotheby's

each with shallow rounded sides rising from a slightly tapering foot to a flaring rim, covered overall with a pale lavender-blue glaze thinning to a paler tone at the rim, the base left white and inscribed with a six-character Yongzheng mark within a double square. Quantity: 2 - 13.3cm., 5 1/4 in. Estimate 30,000-50,000 GBP

PROVENANCE: Collection of the Hon. Mrs Basil Ionides.

John Sparks Ltd., London, 1949.

The Cartwright collection of Qing monochrome wares

NOTE: A pair of closely related dishes, catalogued as covered in a 'pale cobalt-blue glaze', from the Sir Percival David Foundation and now in the British Museum, London, is published in Margaret Medley, Illustrated Catalogue of Ming and Ch'ing Monochrome, London, 1973, nos B560 and 561; a pair from the E.T. Hall collection was sold at Christie's London, 7th June 2004, lot 273; and another pair was sold at Christie's New York, 24th March 2004, lot 244. A slightly smaller dish, but of lighter tone and with a six character reign mark within double circles, from the Warrington-Strong collection, was sold in these rooms, 27th November 1973, lot 383.

Sotheby's. Fine Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art. London | 09 Nov 2011 www.sothebys.com