Page 66 - 2019 September 9th Bonhams Important Chinese Works of Art

PROPERTY FROM A NEW YORK CITY COLLECTOR

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A RARE WUCAI LOBED JAR A twelve lobed example painted with six panels is in the collection
Wanli mark and of the period of the British museum and illustrated by Jessica Harrison-Hall, Ming
The straight sides divided into six lobes, each lobe painted with a Ceramics in the British Museum, London, 2001, p. 334, no. 11:153.
vignette of a seated scholar flanked by two attendants, one holding That example, like the present lot has similar stylized clouds at the top
a goose and the other variously holding a dish, covered box or vase, of each panel and the mouth is encircled by a band of lotus blossoms
all with garden rocks in the foreground and pine needles and stylized and foliate scrolls. Jessica Harrison-Hall, ibid., notes that such vessels
clouds above, with a band of lotus blossoms and foliate scrolls were probably modeled after contemporary Ming lacquer or silver
encircling the mouth, the recessed foot centered with the six-character boxes.
mark in underglaze blue within a double circle, wood cover and stand.
4 1/4in (10.8cm) high An example similar to the one in the British Museum was sold at
Christie’s New York, 22 March 2018, lot 601. A five-lobed Wanli mark
and period example decorated with dragons was sold at Christie’s
$20,000 - 30,000 Paris, 19 December 2012, lot 13; and an octagonal example also with
a Wanli mark and of the period, decorated with dragons was sold at
明萬曆 五彩庭園高士圖小罐 《大明萬曆年製》款 Christie’s Hong Kong, 29 November 2017, lot 3004.

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