CHINA - 20th century Set of five celadon jade (nephrite) groups including a magnolia branch, a cachet surmounted by an unengraved Buddhist lion, a fibula, the dragon head hook, two medallions, one openwork with two birds facing each other, bat and sound stone, the other with a moving 'shou' (longevity) character and foliage. (Gerce, accident, missing parts, chips) H. 4.6 to 8.7 cm Provenance: Collection of Doctor Maurice Fournials. Appointed in 1923 to the French occupation corps in China, he later became in Peking the guard physician at the French legation, then assistant physician to the President of the Chinese Republic.

Composed of several subsidiaries, the Drouot Group is a major player in the art market. Hôtel Drouot, located in the heart of Paris, has been the world's largest public auction center since 1852. 15 salerooms are available to more than 70 auction houses. The emulation generated by an annual offer of 230,000 artworks from 21 major specialities - from Antiquity to street art - attracts some 3,000 visitors every day. The Group's digital platform, Drouot.com, offers digital sales - Live auctions (live broadcasting and participation in auctions), Online-only auctions (dematerialised auctions) and Buy Now sales (sales of lots at fixed prices). Nearly 2 million items are offered annually by 600 auction houses. Auction news is reported every week in La Gazette Drouot, the leading weekly magazine for the art market and culture published by Auctionspress.