A LARGE, RARE AND IMPRESSIVE BLUE AND WHITE 'PHOENIX' VASE, MEIPING
These lots have been imported from outside the EU … Read more
A LARGE, RARE AND IMPRESSIVE BLUE AND WHITE 'PHOENIX' VASE, MEIPING

WANLI SIX-CHARACTER MARK IN UNDERGLAZE BLUE AND OF THE PERIOD (1573-1619)

Details
A LARGE, RARE AND IMPRESSIVE BLUE AND WHITE 'PHOENIX' VASE, MEIPING
WANLI SIX-CHARACTER MARK IN UNDERGLAZE BLUE AND OF THE PERIOD (1573-1619)
The exterior of the sturdily potted vase is boldly painted in shades of underglaze cobalt blue depicting two phoenixes in flight amidst clouds, set between a band of tall lotus lappets surrounding the base and another similar band encircling shoulder.
22 ¾ in. (58 cm.) high
Provenance
Christie's London, 15 May 2007, lot 223.
Formerly in a private collection in the UK.
Special notice
These lots have been imported from outside the EU for sale using a Temporary Import regime. Import VAT is payable (at 5%) on the Hammer price. VAT is also payable (at 20%) on the buyer’s Premium on a VAT inclusive basis. When a buyer of such a lot has registered an EU address but wishes to export the lot or complete the import into another EU country, he must advise Christie's immediately after the auction.

Brought to you by

Cherrei Yuan Tian
Cherrei Yuan Tian

Check the condition report or get in touch for additional information about this

If you wish to view the condition report of this lot, please sign in to your account.

Sign in
View condition report

Lot Essay

Large blue and white meiping vessels from the late Ming period tend to be decorated with either phoenixes or dragons. Jessica Harrison-Hall highlights that eight blue and white meiping vases with covers were among the few porcelains discovered in the Wanli emperor's tomb, the Ding Ling (see Catalogue of Late Yuan and Ming Ceramics in the British Museum, London, 2001, p. 290).
See a similar vase illustrated in Oriental Ceramics: The World's Great Collections, vol. 8, Museum of Far Eastern Antiquities, Stockholm, Tokyo, 1982, pl. 246. An example was also sold at Christie's Paris, 22 November 2006, lot 282; and another at Sotheby's Hong Kong, 2 May 2005, lot 646.
Also compare the present lot with similar large vases painted with dragons instead of phoenixes, including one illustrated by He Li, Chinese Ceramics, The New Standard Guide, San Francisco, 1996, pl. 428 ; and one sold at Christie's Hong Kong, 2 May 1994, lot 641.

More from Appreciating Elegance: Art from the Sui Yuan Zhai Collection

View All
View All