A large blue and white 'Kraak' bowl. Second quarter of the 17th century. Photo Sotheby's

the deep rounded sides rising from a tapering wedge-shaped foot to a barbed rim, painted in various shades of cobalt-blue to the interior with a seated lady spinning in the central medallion encircled by a meandering leafy scroll of chrysanthemum, the well with radiating panelled designs of an official with an acolyte, riverscape with distant figures and stylised European tulip and floral scrolls divided by narrower panels of upright coiling shrubs, the exterior similarly decorated with panelled designs above a continuous floral scroll; 37cm., 14 5/8 in. Estimate 4,000-6,000 GBP. Unsold

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