Lot 20. A wucai 'Hundred deer' vase, Wanli mark and period (1573-1619); 34cm., 13 3/8 in. Estimate 30,000—40,000 GBP. Lot Sold 51,650 GBP. © Sotheby's

brightly enamelled around the body in green, yellow, iron-red and brown enamels with auspicious 'hundred deer' design, the animals depicted resting, grazing and at playful leisure in landscape scenes, between a band of stylised lappets to the foot rim and hanging motifs suspended from a scrollwork border to the shoulder, the neck with floral sprays.

Note: A related Wanli 'Hundred Deer' vase, in the National Palace Museum, Taipei, is illustrated in Minji meihin zuroku, vol. II, Tokyo, 1978, pl. 101; one formerly in the collection of Tamisuke Yokogawa is included in the Illustrated Catalogue of Tokyo National Museum. Chinese Ceramics, vol. II, Tokyo, 1990, pl. 330; another is published in Sekai toji zenshu, vol. 14, Tokyo, 1976, pl. 218; and a fourth example from the collection of Ernest Gandidier in the Musee Guimet, Paris, is illustrated in Oriental Ceramics. The World's Great Collections, vol. 7, Tokyo, 1981, col. pl. 26. See also one sold in these rooms, 10^th November 2004, lot 564; and another, but without a reign mark, sold at Christie's London, 7^th November 2006, lot 184.

The design on this vase is rich with auspicious meaning; in Chinese tradition the deer is symbolic of longevity due to being the only animal capable of finding the lingzhi fungus of immortality, and is thus often depicted with Shoulao, the God of Longevity. 'Hundred deer' (bai lu) is homophonous with hundred emoluments and represents the wish, 'May you receive the hundred emoluments from heaven'.

Lot 18. A large wucai baluster vase, 17th century; 53.5cm., 21 1/8 in. Estimate 15,000—25,000 GBP. Lot Sold 20,000 GBP. © Sotheby's

the elegantly potted long tapering cylindrical body rising from a short spreading foot to a short waisted neck with everted rim, brightly enamelled around the exterior with three large phoenix amidst leafy scrolling peony.

Sotheby's. Fine Chinese Ceramics & Works of Art, London, 12 May 2010.