Lot Essay
This pattern is more familiar in conjunction with an overglaze-yellow enamel ground where it is repeated in a number of sizes with various central sprays during the Chenghua, Hongzhi and Zhengde periods. It is much rarer to find it in only blue and white. Only three other dishes of this pattern and date appear to have been published.
The first is illustrated in Chinese Ceramics in the Idemitsu Collection, pl. 638; the second from the Suzhou Museum in Zhongguo Meishu Quanji, Taoci, vol. 3, pl. 77 and by Liu Liang-yu, Ming Official Wares, vol. 4, p. 96; the last from the Leventritt Collection now in the Centre of Asian Art and Culture, San Francisco, was included in the China Institute in America Exhibition of Ming Porcelains, New York, 1970, Catalogue, no. 12, also illustrated in the Philadelphia 1949 Exhibition of Ming Blue-and-White, Catalogue, p. 50, fig. 54. These are all decorated in the centre with a flowering pomegranate spray.
Interestingly, the nearest relatives of the present dish, slightly smaller blue and white Xuande dishes with a lily-like spray in the medallion, have the nianhao inscribed within a double circle rather than under the reverse of the rim. Examples are illustrated in the Handbook of the Mr. and Mrs. J D Rockefeller Collection, p. 74, 1979.165, and the Philadelphia 1949 Exhibition of Ming Blue-and-White, Catalogue, p. 60, fig.71, from the Hobart Collection.
A Xuande blue and white example of the pomegranate design but incised and in reserve decoration is illustrated in the Handbook of the Mr. and Mrs. J.D. Rockefeller Collection, p. 75, 1979.166. Another from the British Museum, dated early 15th Century, is illustrated in Oriental Ceramics, vol. 5, col. pl. 37.
A Xuande example with pomegranates and a yellow ground from the Percival David Foundation is illustrated in Elegant Form and Harmonious Decoration, col. pl. 42. An example of the incised lily spray in reserve is illustrated in Mayuyama Seventy Years, vol. I, p. 262, fig. 789. Another was included in the National Palace Museum, Taibei, Special Exhibition of Xuande wares, Catalogue, no. 82. Other related Xuande variations are illustrated in idem., nos. 129 and 130; Imperial Porcelain of the Yongle and Xuande periods, Catalogue, no. 52; Selected Chinese Ceramics from Han to Qing, pp. 36-38, col. pls. 35-40 and Liu Liang-yu, Ming Official Wares, vol. 4, p. 73.
For a Chenghua example of this pattern in blue and white, cf. Selected Masterpieces of Ceramics from the Matsuoka Museum of Art, col. pl. 58. For Chenghua examples but with a yellow ground, cf. Imperial Porcelain Recent Discoveries of Jingdezhen Ware, p. 70, col. pl. 103; and Selected Chinese Ceramics from Han to Qing, p. 224. A Zhengde example in blue and white with a lily spray is illustrated in Gems of Chinese Art, Selected Ceramics and Bronzes from the Tsui Art Foundation, no. 83. Zhengde examples with a yellow ground and lily sprays and peony sprays are illustrated in An Anthology of Chinese Art, p. 137, col. pl. 94 and 139, col. pl. 95; Sekai Toji Zenshu, vol. 14, col. pl. 171; and by Krahl in the Meiyintang Collection, Catalogue, Volume Two, p. 73, col. pl. 685. (Cf. also, pp.68-71 for Zhengde and Hongzhi variations in red, blue and white and blue and yellow and Mayuyama Seventy Years, vol. I, p. 266 for four various Hongzhi and Zhengde examples and pp. 268, fig. 804 and p. 284, fig. 850. Hongzhi and Zhengde examples in red and blue and yellow from the Percival David Foundation are illustrated in Oriental Ceramics, Kodansha Series, vol. 6, col. pls. 36-37).
(US$240,000-280,000)
The first is illustrated in Chinese Ceramics in the Idemitsu Collection, pl. 638; the second from the Suzhou Museum in Zhongguo Meishu Quanji, Taoci, vol. 3, pl. 77 and by Liu Liang-yu, Ming Official Wares, vol. 4, p. 96; the last from the Leventritt Collection now in the Centre of Asian Art and Culture, San Francisco, was included in the China Institute in America Exhibition of Ming Porcelains, New York, 1970, Catalogue, no. 12, also illustrated in the Philadelphia 1949 Exhibition of Ming Blue-and-White, Catalogue, p. 50, fig. 54. These are all decorated in the centre with a flowering pomegranate spray.
Interestingly, the nearest relatives of the present dish, slightly smaller blue and white Xuande dishes with a lily-like spray in the medallion, have the nianhao inscribed within a double circle rather than under the reverse of the rim. Examples are illustrated in the Handbook of the Mr. and Mrs. J D Rockefeller Collection, p. 74, 1979.165, and the Philadelphia 1949 Exhibition of Ming Blue-and-White, Catalogue, p. 60, fig.71, from the Hobart Collection.
A Xuande blue and white example of the pomegranate design but incised and in reserve decoration is illustrated in the Handbook of the Mr. and Mrs. J.D. Rockefeller Collection, p. 75, 1979.166. Another from the British Museum, dated early 15th Century, is illustrated in Oriental Ceramics, vol. 5, col. pl. 37.
A Xuande example with pomegranates and a yellow ground from the Percival David Foundation is illustrated in Elegant Form and Harmonious Decoration, col. pl. 42. An example of the incised lily spray in reserve is illustrated in Mayuyama Seventy Years, vol. I, p. 262, fig. 789. Another was included in the National Palace Museum, Taibei, Special Exhibition of Xuande wares, Catalogue, no. 82. Other related Xuande variations are illustrated in idem., nos. 129 and 130; Imperial Porcelain of the Yongle and Xuande periods, Catalogue, no. 52; Selected Chinese Ceramics from Han to Qing, pp. 36-38, col. pls. 35-40 and Liu Liang-yu, Ming Official Wares, vol. 4, p. 73.
For a Chenghua example of this pattern in blue and white, cf. Selected Masterpieces of Ceramics from the Matsuoka Museum of Art, col. pl. 58. For Chenghua examples but with a yellow ground, cf. Imperial Porcelain Recent Discoveries of Jingdezhen Ware, p. 70, col. pl. 103; and Selected Chinese Ceramics from Han to Qing, p. 224. A Zhengde example in blue and white with a lily spray is illustrated in Gems of Chinese Art, Selected Ceramics and Bronzes from the Tsui Art Foundation, no. 83. Zhengde examples with a yellow ground and lily sprays and peony sprays are illustrated in An Anthology of Chinese Art, p. 137, col. pl. 94 and 139, col. pl. 95; Sekai Toji Zenshu, vol. 14, col. pl. 171; and by Krahl in the Meiyintang Collection, Catalogue, Volume Two, p. 73, col. pl. 685. (Cf. also, pp.68-71 for Zhengde and Hongzhi variations in red, blue and white and blue and yellow and Mayuyama Seventy Years, vol. I, p. 266 for four various Hongzhi and Zhengde examples and pp. 268, fig. 804 and p. 284, fig. 850. Hongzhi and Zhengde examples in red and blue and yellow from the Percival David Foundation are illustrated in Oriental Ceramics, Kodansha Series, vol. 6, col. pls. 36-37).
(US$240,000-280,000)