Page 33 - Important Chinese Art Hong Kong April 2, 2019 Sotheby's

3612
A WUCAI ‘DRAGON’ OCTAGONAL WATER JAR 明萬曆 五彩雲龍紋八方罐
MARK AND PERIOD OF WANLI 《大明萬曆年製》款
of octagonal section, the straight sides divided into eight
facets and supported on a low foot, each face boldly painted An octagonal form Wanli jar of similar dimensions as the
with a five-clawed dragon writhing amongst cloud scrolls and present piece, formerly in the collection of Dr Francis W.
flames in pursuit of a flaming pearl, the base inscribed with a Lewis, is preserved in the Philadelphia Museum of Art
six-character reign mark within a double circle, black lacquer (accession no. 1905-202,a). See comparable jars painted
cover with figures in landscape, for example, one illustrated in
14.2 cm, 5⅝ in. Sekai tōji zenshū/Ceramic Art of the World, vol. 14, Tokyo,
1976, pl. 263; and another sold in these rooms, 28th
HK$ 300,000-500,000 November 1979, lot 81. Compare also a blue-and-white lobed
US$ 38,300-64,000 jar decorated with boys at play, sold in these rooms, 5th
October 2011, lot 2047, and another painted with scholars
pursuing leisurely activities, sold at Christie’s Hong Kong,
28th November 2005, lot 1422.

Mark
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