Lot 3194. A large famille rose porcelain ink stand, Yongzheng period (1723-1735). Estimate HKD 200,000 - HKD 300,000. Price realised HKD 1,680,000 © Christie's Images Ltd 2017

The top of the ink stand is finely painted with three figures in a landscape against pavilions interspersed in craggy mountains with tall trees while another figure seated in a boat in the distant river. All is set above an apron carved in openwork with archaistic scroll and four legs with hoof feet. 8 1/4 in. (21.4 cm.) long, box.

Note: A slightly larger example (22.4 cm. long) with its upper surface painted with a landscape scene in grisaille, dated to Yongzheng period, though catalogued as a low table, is in the collection of Palace Museum, Beijing, and illustrated in Small refined articles of the Study, The Complete Collection of Treasures from the Palace Museum, vol. 39, Hong Kong, 2009, p. 319, no. 316 (fig. 1).

fig. 1 A large famille rose porcelain ink stand, Yongzheng period (1723-1735). Collection of the Palace Museum, Beijing

Christie's. The Imperial Sale / Important Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art, 31 May 2017, Convention Hall