A RARE BLUE AND WHITE ‘DRAGON’ JAR

Very few other Wanli mark and period jars of this pattern are known. The closest example appears to be a slightly larger jar of the same pattern with a lipped rim (20.6 cm. high) sold at Christie’s London, 8 November 2016, lot 16, which was restored. A similar Wanli mark and period jar (19.5 cm. high) with lappet collar at the shoulder and leaves at the base was sold at Sotheby’s London, 10 November 2010, lot 27. Compare also to another Wanli jar of nearly identical size (17.1 cm. high) and sharing a very similar mark but painted with animals and mythical beasts and with a restored neck sold at Christie’s New York, 22 March 2007, lot 311.