A blue and white and copper-red-decorated bottle vase, Kangxi period (1662-1722). Photo Christie's Image Ltd 2014.

The vase is potted with a bulbous body rising to a long cylindrical neck, supported on a short foot. The exterior of the body is delicately painted with a qilin and an eagle both standing on large rocks surrounded by crashing waves, below the moon amidst clouds and two seal marks. The base is inscribed with an apocryphal six-character Chenghua mark within double-circles. 15 ¼ in. (38.8 cm.) high. Estimate £30,000 – £50,000 ($50,370 - $83,950)

Provenance: Formerly in the collection of Erik Nordstrom in 1920 and thence by decent to his family.

Christie's. FINE CHINESE CERAMICS AND WORKS OF ART, 13 May 2014, London, King Street - http://www.christies.com/