WANLI (1573-1619)

Details

A LATE MING BLUE AND WHITE 'KRAAK PORSELEIN' BOTTLE
Wanli (1573-1619)
The pear-shaped body moulded with interlocking pomegranate panels and surmounted by a tall tapering neck, painted with pine, butterflies and other insects alternating with panels of honeycomb diaper, the neck with a ribboned scroll and double gourd suspended from ruyi motifs around the rim, upper neck restored
12 in. (30 cm.) high

Special notice

No VAT will be charged on the hammer price, but VAT at 17.5% will be added to the buyer's premium which is invoiced on a VAT inclusive basis.

Lot Essay

Panels in the shape of pomegranates are a feature rarely seen on kraak porcelain, and then they appear to be exclusive to pouring vessels. Vases of this shape but with slightly different decoration are illustrated by Ayers and Krahl, Chinese Ceramics in the Topkapi Saray Museum, Istanbul, London, 1986, p. 755-6, cat. nos. 1397, 1398; compare also the closely related examples, ibid., nos. 1392-1396. A similar bottle but with lanca characters at the neck, was sold in these Rooms, 28 April 1999, lot 82.

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