A fine two-colour lacquer squared brush pot, bitong, 18th century. Photo Bonhams

Deeply and elegantly carved through two thick layers of lacquer, the uppermost layer cinnabar-red and the lower layer dark green; each side decorated with a lobed, rectangular panel of flowers on rocks, two sides depicting peonies, the other sides depicting prunus and lotus, all reserved on the finely-carved diamond pattern ground, framed by a continuous floral scroll carved in high relief to show the dark-green ground. 11.5cm (4½in) high - Estimate: £16,000 - 18,000 (HK$ 190,000 - 220,000) (€20,000 - 23,000).

Bonhams. 5 Sep 2012 11 a.m. London, Knightsbridge. Chinese & other Asian Works of Art