A fine and rare pair of Blue and White 'Peony' Dishes. Yongzheng six-character marks within double-circles and of the period (1723-1735). Photo Christie's Image Ltd 2012

Each dish is naturalistically painted in the central medallion in delicate shades of blue with two butterflies in flight above leafy branches bearing three full peony blossoms growing from pierced rockwork. The exterior is similarly decorated with chrysanthemum, hibiscus and other flowering shrubs growing from behind rocks, all within single and double-line borders. 8 1/4 in. (20.9 cm.) diam., box (2). Estimate HK$1,500,000 - HK$2,000,000 ($194,449 - $259,265)

Provenance: The T.Y. Chao Private and Family Trust Collections of Important Chinese Ceramics, Part 1, sold at Sotheby's Hong Kong, 18 November 1986, lot 78

Exhibited: The Hong Kong Museum of Art, Ming and Ch'ing Porcelain from the Collection of the T.Y. Chao Family Foundation, illustrated in the Catalogue, 1978, no. 86

Notes: A Yongzheng dish of this design, from the author's collection, is illustrated by S. Jenyns, Later Chinese Porcelain, London, 1971, pl. LXI; another pair is illustrated by R. Krahl, Chinese Ceramics in the Meiyintang Collection, London, 1994, pl. 764.

Christie's. Important Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art. 28 November 2012. Hong Kong