A blue and white dish for the Portuguese Market. Ming Dynasty, Wanli Period. photo Sotheby's

the shallow rounded sides rising from a short tapering foot to a broad everted rim, the interior painted with a butterfly hovering above two qilin amid floral blossoms and lingzhi sprays, encircled by butterflies and pairs of fruiting peach sprays to the well, the rim with a pavilion and monastery divided by floral sprays, Buddhist lions and figures under a canopy, the exterior decorated with pendent stylised foliage, with Japanese wooden box. 2.0; 36.5cm., 14 3/8 in. Lot 96. Estimation 4,000-6,000 GBP

Sotheby's. Fine Chinese Ceramics & Works of Art. Londres | 16 mai 2012, 10:00 AM www.sothebys.com