A blue and white sleeve vase. Chongzhen Period (1628-44). Photo Christie's Image Ltd, 2011

The tall, slightly tapering sides painted with a scene of a seated official flanked by two attendants amongst rockwork, with a standing bearded figure before them beside a tethered horse, a leaping demon to one side, within cloud and mountainous borders and within narrow incised bands, all below a band of painted stiff leaves to the waisted neck; 17¾ in. (45 cm.) high  Estimate £8,000 - £12,000.  Price Realized £82,850

A blue and white sleeve vase. Chongzhen Period (1628-44). Photo Christie's Image Ltd, 2011

The slender slightly tapering cylindrical body with a short waisted flaring neck, finely painted with cobalt of sapphire-blue tones depicting several officials on horses with numerous attendants in rockwork and river landscape, all below an incised floral band on the gentle sloping shoulder and repeated above the foot, the neck decorated with pendant plantain leaves; 18¼ in. (46.5 cm.) high  Estimate £8,000 - £12,000.  Price Realized £70,850

A blue and white sleeve vase. Chongzhen Period (1628-44).  Photo Christie's Image Ltd, 2011

Painted around the body with a farmer and a buffalo beside three officials beneath a willow tree in an exterior scene, with vapour rising amidst the trees and rocks of a mountain valley on the reverse, all between incised line borders; 15 in. (38 cm.) high  Estimate £10,000 - £15,000.  Price Realized £37,250

Christie's. Chinese Ceramics, Works of Art and Textiles, 11 November 2011. London, South Kensington www.christies.com