Lot 326. Two blue and white 'yen yen' vases, Qing dynasty, 19th century; 45.8 and 45 cm, 18 and 17 3/4  in. Estimate 30,000 — 40,000 HKD. Lot sold 400,000 HKD (42,991 EUR). Photo: Sotheby's

each of tall baluster form with an ovoid body tapering to the splayed foot and surmounted by a tall trumpet neck and flaring rim, skilfully painted with gnarled branches bearing blossoms against cobalt-blue dabs, one decorated with budding and blooming prunus, the other with prunus and magnolia.

Provenance: Collection of T.Y. Chao (1912-1999), and thence by descent in the family.  

Exhibited: Right: Ch'ing Porcelain from the Wah Kwong Collection, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, 1973, cat. no. 58.