A flambe-glazed Pear-shaped Vase, fanghu. Xuantong mark and period. Photo Sotheby's

of archaic bronze form, the pear-shaped body of square section and moulded with a peach-shaped panel on the front and back face, rising to a broad neck with indented corners and flanked by tubular handles, covered with a rich red glaze streaked to a milky lavender tone at the edges and the rim, the cornered edges thinning to a pale mushroom colour, the square-cut base unglazed and incised with a six-character Xuantong mark; 29.7cm., 11 3/4 in. Estimate 12,000-18,000 GBP

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