Lot 65. A rare cloisonné enamel 'lotus' bowl and cover, Ming dynasty, 17th century; 8 ¼ in. (21 cm.) diam. Price Realised GBP 12,500 (Estimate GBP 5,000 - GBP 8,000). © Christie's 2022

Property from The Collection of Raine, Countess Spencer.

The circular bowl is decorated to the exterior with peonies rising from leafy and scrolling stems. The base is similarly decorated with a central lotus blossom. The slightly stepped cover has a bud-form finial and is decorated with a band of six large lotus heads amongst leafy tendrils and a band with auspicious symbols. Each band is bordered with classic scrolls on a blue ground.

Lot 67. A rare cloisonné enamel 'birds and flower' square vase, fanghu, Ming dynasty, 17th century; 15 ¾ in. (40 cm.) high, softwood stand. Price Realised GBP 6,000 (Estimate GBP 6,000 - GBP 8,000). © Christie's 2022

Property from The Collection of Raine, Countess Spencer.

The vase is decorated to each side with a bird on a flowering branch, including a kingfisher and a parrot, all on a turquoise ground. Each side of the neck and foot is decorated with a large lotus head with leafy tendrils.

Lot 68. A cloisonné enamel 'double fish' bowl, Ming dynasty, 15th-16th century; 15 ¾ in. (40 cm.) high, softwood stand. Price Realised GBP 32,500 (Estimate GBP 8,000 - GBP 12,000). © Christie's 2022

Property from The Collection of Raine, Countess Spencer.

The deep bowl is decorated to the centre with a large carp and a smaller carp leaping from waves above rocks. The gently rounded sides are decorated to the interior with stylised chrysanthemums with leafy scrolls below a band of stylised flower heads encircling the rim. The exterior is similarly decorated with six large lotus heads divided by six smaller blossoms interlinked by leafy tendrils, all between a band of chrysanthemum blossoms encircling the mouth rim and a lappet band to the foot.

Note: Cloisonné enamel vessels of this period decorated with fish are rare to find. Compare a cloisonné enamel dish decorated with a single fish and dated to the second half 15th century, illustrated by Brinker and Lutz in Chinese Cloisonné: The Pierre Uldry Collection, New York, 1989, pl. 33. Another bowl with fish motif was sold at Christie's London, 9 November 2010, lot 234.