A pale green and russet jade 'Parrot and Peach' libation cup, Yuan-Ming dynasty. Photo Sotheby's

exceptionally well worked in the form of a hollowed half peach with an intricately carved arrangement of entwined leaves, tendrils and flowering stems forming the handle, with a large parrot purchased atop beside two small fruiting peaches, the pale green and russet stone with a high polish; 10.7cm., 4 1/2 in. Estimation 30,000 — 50,000 GBP

Provenance: A French Private Collection

Exquisitely carved with rhythmically curling leaves surmounted by a delicately rendered parrot, this cup is a charming example of a utilitarian object that has been inspired by nature to adorn the studio of a scholar. The carver has skillfully incorporated the russet skin and inclusions to highlight elements of the design, and the sensitively rendered parrot and leaves are testament to his expertise in the medium. The intricacy of the decorative elements provides a pleasing contrast to the smoothly finished surface of the cup. Compare a closely related cup included in the exhibition Jingtian gewu. Zhongguo lidai yuqi daodu, National Palace Museum, Taipei, 2011, cat. no. 7-2-2; another exhibited in The Grandeur of Chinese Art Treasures: Min Chiu Society Golden Jubilee Exhibition, Hong Kong Museum of Art, 2010, cat. no. 205; and a third cup published in Sydney L. Moss, Emperor. Scholar. Artisan. Monk. The Creative Personality in Chinese Works of Art, Hong Kong, 1984, pl. 94.

Sotheby's. Fine Chinese Ceramics & Works of Art. London, 14 mai 2014 -http://www.sothebys.com/