Lot Essay
The Longqing Emperor's reign lasted only five years (1567-1572) which partly explains why pieces bearing his reign mark are so extremely rare.
A pair of Longqing dishes of this rare form and decoration were sold in Hong Kong, 19 October 1991, lot 49. No other examples appear to have been published.
It is notable that among the marked examples of Longqing wares, a high proportion are lobed in design. Cf. a small blue and white octafoil dish from the Jarras Collection sold in these Rooms, 8 October 1990, lot 305; the aforementioned pair of dishes and a small septafoil blue and white box and cover from the Percival David Foundation, illustrated in Oriental Ceramics, Kodansha Series, vol. 6, fig. 142. Two late 16th Century small blue and white dishes from the Topkapi Saray Museum are hexafoil, cf. the Catalogue, vol. II, p. 711, fig. 1226 and p. 744, fig. 1357.
(US$35,000-40,000)
A pair of Longqing dishes of this rare form and decoration were sold in Hong Kong, 19 October 1991, lot 49. No other examples appear to have been published.
It is notable that among the marked examples of Longqing wares, a high proportion are lobed in design. Cf. a small blue and white octafoil dish from the Jarras Collection sold in these Rooms, 8 October 1990, lot 305; the aforementioned pair of dishes and a small septafoil blue and white box and cover from the Percival David Foundation, illustrated in Oriental Ceramics, Kodansha Series, vol. 6, fig. 142. Two late 16th Century small blue and white dishes from the Topkapi Saray Museum are hexafoil, cf. the Catalogue, vol. II, p. 711, fig. 1226 and p. 744, fig. 1357.
(US$35,000-40,000)