The latter features pieces relating tales from Chinese history or literature and others that have interesting provenances or stories, such as this late Ming blue and white elephant and buddha form censer.
Produced for the Japanese market between 1620-45, and one of a group of ceramics known as ko-sometsuke (old blue and white), the form also had particular meaning in China where the term qixiang (to ride an elephant) also sounds similar to jixiang, meaning good fortune.
Estimate £15,000-20,000.