A fine blue and white cylindrical brush pot, bitong. Chenghua six-character mark, early Kangxi. Photo Bonhams

Finely and delicately painted around the straight sides of the body with four elegant ladies presenting vessels to a dignitary seated in front of a large wave-pattern throne watching two dancing ladies, a four-lady chamber orchestra at the left side, wood stand. 18cm (7in) diam. (2). Sold for £49,250

Provenance: S.Marchant and Son, London
The Harriet Szechenyi Collection, Switzerland

Bonhams. Fine Chinese Art, 10 Nov 2011, New Bond Street  www.bonhams.com