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220 Wanli period wucai ceramics decorated with dragon, phoenixes and
A fine and rare pair of wucai ‘dragon and phoenix’ dishes auspicious crashing wave borders are rarely published. See a closely
Wanli six-character marks and of the period related and similar-looking example with six-character Longqing mark
Each with shallow sides ending in everted rims rising from a short and of the period, in the Sir Percival David collection, currently housed in
recessed circular foot, the central cartouche with a forward-facing five- the British Museum, London, illustrated in Illustrated Catalogue of Ming
clawed dragon above two phoenixes guarding the flaming pearl in flight and Ming Style Polychrome Wares in the Percival David Foundation of
amongst wispy clouds, encircled within a frieze of crashing waves and Chinese Art, London, 2006, p.41, no.A729. See also other examples of
floral petals interspersed between an auspicious four-character blessing Wanli period wucai ceramics in the Huaihaitang collection, illustrated in
at the compass points, the exterior decorated with meandering lotus Enlightening Elegance. Imperial Porcelain of the Mid to Late Ming. The
blossoms issuing leafy vines, the base with a six-character Imperial kaishu Huaihaitang Collection, Hong Kong, 2012, pp.294-297, no.84 & 85.
mark within double circles in underglaze-blue.
Each 14.1cm diam. (2). 萬曆一朝官窯五彩瓷，紋飾較前朝嘉靖出現更多福、祿、壽內容，但
HK$750,000 - 850,000 飾龍鳳並添「福如東海」四字紋飾則較為少見。見大英博物館大威德
US$97,000 - 110,000 收藏一件類似的明隆慶款五彩盤，見《Illustrated Catalogue of Ming
and Ming Style Polychrome Wares in the Percival David Foundation of
明萬曆 五彩福如東海龍鳳紋盤一對 青花雙圈「大明萬曆年製」楷書款 Chinese Art》，倫敦，2006年，頁41；以龍鳳紋為主題紋飾之萬曆官
窯五彩例，見北京故宮博物院藏五彩龍鳳紋盤，《故宮博物院藏文物珍
品大系：五彩鬥彩》，上海，2007，頁54，圖版50。
30 | Bonhams
