Live Auction 18244Important Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art
A RARE BLUE AND WHITE ‘DRAGON’ JAR
Lot 3038

A RARE BLUE AND WHITE ‘DRAGON’ JAR

WANLI SIX-CHARACTER MARK IN UNDERGLAZE BLUE WITHIN A DOUBLE CIRCLE AND OF THE PERIOD (1573-1620)

Closed30 November 2020

Price Realised

HKD 1,250,000

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A RARE BLUE AND WHITE ‘DRAGON’ JAR
WANLI SIX-CHARACTER MARK IN UNDERGLAZE BLUE WITHIN A DOUBLE CIRCLE AND OF THE PERIOD (1573-1620)
The jar is sturdily potted with broad round shoulders and decorated around the exterior in vibrant shades of blue with four shaped cartouches divided by scrolling flowers and foliage, each enclosing a five-clawed scaly dragon amid stylised clouds.
6 6/17 in. (17 cm.) high, Japanese wood box

A private collection, Nagoya, Japan

Specialist note

Very few other Wanli mark and period jars of this pattern are known. The closest example appears to be a slightly larger jar of the same pattern with a lipped rim (20.6 cm. high) sold at Christie’s London, 8 November 2016, lot 16, which was restored. A similar Wanli mark and period jar (19.5 cm. high) with lappet collar at the shoulder and leaves at the base was sold at Sotheby’s London, 10 November 2010, lot 27. Compare also to another Wanli jar of nearly identical size (17.1 cm. high) and sharing a very similar mark but painted with animals and mythical beasts and with a restored neck sold at Christie’s New York, 22 March 2007, lot 311.