A wucai sweetmeat dish, Wanli six-character mark and of the period. Photo courtesy Bonhams.

The heavily-potted dish divided in the interior with a central lobed section surrounded by six curving sections radiating to the rim, all painted in underglaze blue and enamelled in iron-red, green and ochre with birds perching on flowering and fruiting branches issuing from rockwork, the exterior similarly decorated with six groups of birds and flowers, the rim and base fitted with white metal bands. 23.4cm (9¼in) diam. Estimate £20,000 - 25,000 (€24,000 - 30,000). Unsold.

Bonhams. FINE CHINESE ART. London, New Bond Street. 7 Nov 2013 - www.bonhams.com