A 'Longquan' celadon model of a mountain retreat. Ming Dynasty. Photo Sotheby's

shaped in the form of a rocky grotto pierced and moulded with numerous apertures, recesses and crags, some with seated sages, their faces unglazed and burnt brown in the firing, and two with square two-storied pagodas, covered overall with a thick and bubbled celadon glaze thinning to a cream colour at the extremities, the base left unglazed revealing the brown body; 31.2cm., 12 1/4 in. Estimate 5,000-7,000 GBP

PROVENANCE: Sotheby's London, 7th June 1988, lot 173.

Sotheby's. Fine Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art. London | 09 Nov 2011 www.sothebys.com