A rare Dutch Delft cistern and cover, circa 1710-1720. Photo Sotheby's

by Lambertus van Eenhoorn, of baluster form with a moulded band at the rim and two large loop handles, the lower part of the cistern moulded with three pierced lion masks, painted in blue with birds amongst large flowering peony and prunus branches and rockwork, LVE mark over 34 in underglaze-blue, some restoration, Quantité: 2; 34.4cm., 13 5/8 in. high. Estimation 1,000 — 1,500 GBP

A closely related example by Lambertus van Eenhoorn without handles, with its original basin is in the Gemeentemuseum, the Hague, illustrated in the Delft Aardewerk Vol.I (1999) p.183, no.66. An example without piercings is in the collection of Sèvres Musée National de Céramique and is illustrated in the collection catalogue Faïence de Delft, 1998, p.152, pl.127.

Sotheby's. The Gustav Leonhardt Collection, Property from the Bartolotti House, Amsterdam. London | 29 avr. 2014 - www.sothebys.com