ENCIRCLED SIX-CHARACTER WANLI MARK AND OF THE PERIOD (1573-1619)

Details

A BLUE AND WHITE 'DRAGON' JAR
Encircled six-character Wanli mark and of the period (1573-1619)
The magnificent large jar decorated with deep underglaze cobalt blue on the shoulder with lingzhi fungus scrolls, the sides with writhing five-clawed dragons among clouds above waves and mountains, the mark in a recessed circular panel in the centre of the base.
15¾ in. (40 cm.) high

Special notice

VAT rate of 5% is payable on hammer price plus buyer's premium.

Lot Essay

Large, boldly painted jars were one of the highpoints of porcelain production in the Wanli reign, and those with dragons among clouds are among the finest.

A slightly larger jar than the current example with similar decoration is in the collection of the Topkapi Saray Museum, illustrated by J. Ayers and R. Krahl in Chinese Ceramics in the Topkapi Saray Museum, Istanbul, vol. II, London, 1986, no. 1328.
Another similar jar is in the collection of the Ardebil Shrine, Iran and illustrated by J.A. Pope in Chinese Porcelains from the Ardebil Shrine, Washington, 1956, pl. 79, no. 29.520, although the latter jar has a band of scrolls around the base.

More from IMPORTANT JAPANESE AND CHINESE ART FROM THE MANNO ART MUSEUM

View All