Lot 111. A small yellow lacquer 'peony' box and cover, Ming dynasty, 15th century; 4.9 cm, 1 7/8  in. Estimate 8,000 — 12,000 GBP. Lot sold 27,500 £ (31,496 €). © Sotheby's.

of circular form, the box and cover meticulously carved in varied levels of relief through the ochre-yellow lacquer to the cinnabar-red layer below with a large peony bloom surrounded by leaves naturalistically bending and curling, the interior lacquered black.