A VERY RARE FINELY CARVED BLUE AND WHITE WINE POT AND COVER

WANLI PERIOD (1573-1619)

Details

A VERY RARE FINELY CARVED BLUE AND WHITE WINE POT AND COVER
WANLI PERIOD (1573-1619)
The gently rounded sides of the pot is painted in cobalt blue with four oblong cartouches each depicting a gentleman accompanied by an attendant in various settings, each separated by a Wan-fret ground glazed white and carved to reveal the buff body, between bands of lotus petal panels around the shoulder and foot enclosing varying diaper patterns. The shoulders are applied on each side with a U-shaped metal handle. The cover is painted with four detached diaper grounds, surmounted by an unglazed finial pierced with a cash motif.
7 1/8 in. (18.1 cm.) high, Japanese wood box

Provenance

A Japanese private collector, acquired before 1940

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Lot Essay

The biscuit-fired carved diaper ground on the current wine pot is very rare and appears to be distinct to porcelain produced in the Wanli period. Compare to a white glazed covered bowl with shaped cartouches divided by a similar carved Wan-fret ground, in the British Museum and illustrated by Jessica Harrison-Hall in Ming Ceramics, London, 2001, no. 11:135; and a blue and white bowl with four roundels separated by a similarly carved ground, dating to around 1620-44, also in the British Museum, ibid., no. 12:40.

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