A BLUE AND WHITE DISH

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

Details

A BLUE AND WHITE DISH
WANLI SIX-CHARACTER MARK IN UNDERGLAZE BLUE WITHIN A DOUBLE CIRCLE AND OF THE PERIOD (1573-1620)
With shallow rounded sides rising to a slighlty everted rim, the interior painted with a scene of the Daoist immortal Zhongkui, the Demon Queller, holding a sword in his right hand, while pulling the hair of a small, angry demon beside him, below a band of continuous double-gourd scroll in the well, the exterior with the Eight Buddhist Emblems (bajixiang) positioned above lotus sprigs, with a band of classic scroll encircling the foot
8 1/8 in. (20.7 cm.) diam., box

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Lot Essay

Compare two blue and white dishes with Wanli marks that are similarly painted with figural scenes as well as the unusual band of double-gourd scroll in the well, the depiction of the bajixiang on the exterior and the band of classic scroll on the foot, illustrated by J. Harrison-Hall, Ming Ceramics in the British Museum, London, 2001, pp. 319, nos. II:117 and II:118. Discussing no. II:117, the author notes that the dish "illustrates Ming openness to the unity of both Buddhist and Daoist iconography on a single object," which is also true of the present dish.

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