Lot 3624. A carved polychrome lacquer Buddhist altar ornament, Qing dynasty, 18th century; 25.8 cm., 10 1/8  in. Estimate 150,000 — 180,000  HKD. Lot sold 325,000 HKD. © Sotheby's

carved as a circular pierced medallion enclosing a large lotus blossom with a scrolling foliage border, resting on a plinth modelled as a large lotus bloom with multi-layered petals and a flat top carved to simulate a lotus pod, the blossom borne on a stem decorated with a herringbone spine and flanked by scrolling foliage, all resting on a circular flat-topped domed base, the top delicately carved with two lotus blossoms wreathed in foliate scrolls, the dome bordered with a pendent stylised ruyi-shaped lotus lappet border, between two bands of ruyi-heads, the foot further bordered with a key-fret band, all delicately carved through the red outer layer to the subtle green and ochre-yellow layers beneath.

Provenance: Collection of Derek Clifford.

Sotheby's. Important Chinese Works of Art, Hong Kong, 07 april 2015