A fine rare blue and white 'Magnolia' month cup, Kangxi six-character mark within a double circle and of the period (1662-1722). Estimate HK$350,000 - HK$450,000 ($45,373 - $58,336). Price realized HK$975,000 ($126,395). Photo Christie's Image LTD 2015

The thinly potted cup has deep rounded sides rising to a flaring rim, with the exterior exquisitely painted representing the second month with two magnolia trees on one side and stalks of bamboo on the reverse. 2 1/4 in. (5.8 cm.) diam.

Notes: It is rare to find cups emblematic of the twelve months painted in underglaze-blue and without the poetic inscription. Comparing to similarly painted ‘month cups’ with inscriptions, the present cup can be identified as representing the second month with two flowering magnolia trees. Compare with three complete sets of cups for all twelve months with peotic inscriptions, the first is in the Qing Court Collection, illustrated in Blue and White Porcelain with Underglazed Red (III), The Complete Collection of Treasures of the Palace Museum, Hong Kong, 2000, no. 71; the second in the Nanjing Museum, illustrated in Qing Imperial Porcelain of the Kangxi, Yongzheng and Qianlong Reigns, Hong Kong, 1995, pl. 21, the third complete set is illustrated in The Tsui Museum of Art - Chinese Ceramics IV - Qing Dynasty, Hong Kong, 1995, pl. 105B.

Christie's. IMPORTANT CHINESE CERAMICS AND WORKS OF ART, 2 December 2015, Convention Hall