Lot 3631. A pair of doucai 'chicken' cups, Qing dynasty, Yongzheng period (1723-1735); 6.6 cm., 2 5/8  in. Estimate 1,500,000 — 2,000,000 HKD. Lot Sold 2,680,000 HKD. Photo: Sotheby's.

each finely potted with rounded sides rising from a concave base to a gently flared rim, the exterior decorated in delicate shades of enamels and underglaze blue with two cockerels and five chicks enamelled yellow and aubergine, a large rock formation issuing a pomegranate fruit and flowers interrupting the continuous scene, all between a single-line and double-line bordering the foot and rim respectively, the interior decorated with a medallion enclosing multi-coloured lingzhi blossoms and leaves, the base inscribed in underglaze blue with an apocryphal four-character Chenghua mark within a double circle, wood stands.