Lot 10. A blue and white ‘mandarin duck and lotus’ dish, Yongzheng Mark And Period (1723-1735); 17.5cm., 6 7/8 in. Estimate 15,000-20,000 GBP. Lot sold 50,000 GBP. Photo: Sotheby's.

the shallow rounded sides rising from a tapered foot, painted to the interior with a central medallion enclosing two mandarin ducks swimming amidst a lotus pond, the exterior similarly decorated with further ducks in a lotus pond below a frieze of dragons chasing flaming pearls, the recessed base inscribed with a six-character mark within a double-circle.