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Three-part garniture of blue and white octagonal Delft vases from 1670-90, estimated at €40,000-60,000 at Lempertz in Cologne.

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Among the pieces on offer is this three-part garniture of blue and white octagonal Delft vases from 1670-90.

They measure 2ft 4in (71cm) and 2ft 1in (64cm) in height and are datable to the last quarter of the 17th century.

The vases are painted with courtly figures in Chinese landscapes and the bases of all three are decorated with stylised tobacco leaves. At the time, such copies of the numerous Chinese vases imported to the Netherlands earlier in the century by the Dutch East India Company were very much à la mode and they still are today, as is reflected by the guide of €40,000-60,000.

Also worthy of note is a 10 x 8in (25 x 21cm) pen and ink drawing of a Wounded Soldier and other subjects from Trajan’s Column in Rome, which the collector bought at a New York auction 30 years ago. It once belonged to Joshua Reynolds and has long been regarded as a work by Nicholas Poussin, although some experts have more recently suggested that it is by Pietro Testa.

Estimate €15,000-20,000.

lempertz.com