Page 86 - Sothebys Important Chinese Art 09/13/17

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PROPERTY FROM A PROMINENT PRIVATE COLLECTION

A RARE WUCAI DOUBLE-GOURD EWER AND
A COVER
WANLI MARK AND PERIOD

painted in underglaze blue and enamels, the lower bulb with
cockerels and birds in a garden landscape of owering peonies
growing amidst pierced rockwork, with further birds amidst
peonies painted to the upper bulb, divided by a band of keyfret
at the waist, the high loop handle and carved spout painted
with blossoming vines, the base with a six-character mark
in underglaze blue within double circles, with an associated
cover, Japanese wood box (4)
Height 6⅝ in., 16.8 cm

PROVENANCE
Christie’s London, 13th November 2001, lot 145.

$ 8,000-12,000

2001 11 13 145

61 62

62 A BLUE AND WHITE DISH
84 SOTHEBY’S MING DYNASTY, WANLI PERIOD

painted in vivid tones of underglaze blue with a qilin supporting
on its back an elaborate canopied lantern, anked by two male
attendants, framed within a double-line border, the rim with
a band of scrolling lotus and foliage, the underside with four
precious objects divided by lanterns, the base with a four-
character Da Ming nian zhi mark within a double circle
Diameter 5⅜ in., 13.8 cm

Compare a slightly larger dish of this type sold in our London
rooms, 6th June 1967, lot 144. Another, with a Wanli reign
mark, sold in the same rooms, 12th November 2003, lot
155. This design is also found in wucai, see one example
illustrated in Bo Gyllensvard, Chinese Ceramics in the Carl
Kempe Collection, Stockholm, 1964, pl. 850, and a pair sold at
Christie’s Hong Kong, 30th November 2016, lot 3399.

$ 3,000-5,000