Page 192 - Christie's, Important Chinese Works of Art December 2, 2015 HK

3188 Compare with three Wanli-marked boxes of closely related pattern.
The first is illustrated in Blue and White Porcelain with Underglazed
A MING BLUE AND WHITE ‘CRANES’ CIRCULAR Red (II), vol. 35, The Complete Collection of Treasures of the Palace
BOX AND COVER Museum, Hong Kong, 2000, pl. 109; the second is illustrated in
Chinese Ceramics in The Idemitsu Collection, Japan, 1987, fig. 732; and
WANLI SIX-CHARACTER MARK IN UNDERGLAZE BLUE WITHIN A the third from the Toguri Collection is illustrated in Sekai toji zenshu,
DOUBLE CIRCLE AND OF THE PERIOD (1573-1619) vol. 14, Tokyo, 1976, pl. 103, and was sold at Sotheby’s London, 9 June
2004, lot 43.
The domed cover is finely painted in deep cobalt-blue with a
raised medallion containing cranes in flight amidst peach and 㖍㛔斄㜙䥩Ṣ㓞啷炻ℍ啷㕤1950⸜ẋ
lingzhi sprigs interspersed with wispy clouds and auspicious
emblems. The rounded sides of the box and cover are decorated
with quadrilobed cartouches with pairs of cranes to either side of
a peach or linghzi fungus, flanked by further auspicious emblems,
the cartouches reserved on a wan diaper ground. The rims with
raised bands are further decorated with a continuous lingzhi scroll,
all within double line borders.
11 in. (28.3 cm.) diam., Japanese wood box

HK$400,000-600,000 US$52,000-78,000

PROVENANCE

A Japanese private collection, Kanto, acquired in the 1950s

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