Lot 18. A blue and white meiping, Qing dynasty, 18th century; 25cm., 9 7/8 in. Estimate 8,000-12,000 GBP. Lot sold 22,500 GBP. Photo: Sotheby's.

the tapering body rising to curved shoulders and surmounted by a narrow waisted neck with lipped rim, painted with leafy plantain and bamboo in a fenced garden with pierced rocks, all between a stylised lingzhiscroll around the shoulder and pendent stiff leaves at the foot, the neck with leafy lingzhi sprigs.