Head of Asian Art Lee Young takes a closer look at The Thornhill Stem Cup - this Ming Xuande (1426-35) mark and period blue and white stem cup is an excellent example of its type and is virtually unseen outside museum collections.
A HIGHLY IMPORTANT BLUE AND WHITE 'DRAGON' STEM CUP
XUANDE SIX-CHARACTER MARK AND OF THE PERIOD
10.3cm high
Sold for HK$ 41,560,000 (approx £3.6million)
Result inclusive of buyer's premium