Lot 3108. A pair of blue and white 'lotus pond' saucer dishes, marks and period of Yongzheng (1723-1735); 11.4 cm., 4 1/2 in. Estimate 250,000 — 350,000 HKD. Lot Sold 1,040,000 HKD. Photo Sotheby's

each with the shallow sides springing from a countersunk base enclosed by an unglazed footring, finely painted with soft washes of cobalt-blue within pencilled borders, the centre with a medallion enclosing a pair of mandarin ducks swimming amidst lotus flower pads and slender aquatic grasses, the underside with a matching frieze of four ducks swimming across gently rippling water between lotus sprays, all below a band of five dragons pursuing 'flaming pearls' at the rim, the base inscribed in underglaze blue with a six-character reign mark within a double-circle.

Sotheby's. Fine Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art, Hong Kong, 08 april 2011