This 3ft 10in (1.15m) wide Qianlong (1736-95) three-colour lacquer throne merits a catalogue of its own and an £800,000-1.2m estimate at Christie’s in London on May 14. Perhaps 150 coats of lacquer were applied then carved to achieve the three-colour effect that was typically reserved for the imperial household. Carved with nine dragons, it is similar in design, both quality and construction to another in the Palace Museum. It comes for sale from a private Asian collection.