Lot 3179. A fine and rare wucai 'Month' cup, seal mark and period of Jiaqing (1796-1820); 5.1 cm., 2 in. Estimate 200,000 — 300,000 HKD (19,572 — 29,357 EUR). Lot sold 250,000 HKD (24,464 EUR). Photo: Sotheby's.  

delicately potted of deep U-shape with flared rim and a short straight foot, painted on one side in the wucaipalette in underglaze blue and overglaze enamels with a red-flowering crab apple tree with few leaves and a rock and some smaller plants beneath, representing the second month, the reverse inscribed with a poem relating to the flowering tree in front reading Qing xiang he su yu/Jia se chu qing yan, followed by the sealshang ('to appreciate'), the base inscribed with the six-character seal mark.   

Note: The poem on the cup reads:

          Qing xiang he su yu. Jian se chu qing yan.

          'The frangrance blends with the flavour of evening rain.
          The beautiful colour stands out in clear weather like in mist.'

Sotheby's. Fine Chinese Ceramics & Works of Art, Hong Kong, 04 Apr 2012