Lot 246. A rare famille-verte 'qilin' brushwasher, Kangxi period  (1662-1722). Estimate 15,000 — 20,000 USD.Photo: Sotheby's

sturdily potted with steep sides rising from a stepped base, vibrantly enameled to the central medallion with aqilin in a landscape, the well with four panels enclosing precious objects tied with ribbons reserved on alternating diaper grounds, the exterior with a continuous landscape, an apocryphal Chenghua mark in underglaze blue inscribed to the countersunk foot, Japanese wood box (3). Diameter 5 1/2  in., 14 cm

Notes: A brushwasher of almost identical size and decoration from the J.M. Hu Collection, inscribed with a six-character Kangxi mark, was sold at Christie's Hong Kong, 30th May 2006, lot 1426. The thickly-potted form is more commonly found in blue and white brushwashers of the period, such as a Kangxi mark and period example painted with a dragon illustrated inKangxi Porcelain Wares from the Shanghai Museum Collection, Hong Kong, 1998, pl. 15..

Sotheby's. Important Chinese Art, New York, 13 sept. 2016, 10:30 AM