A rare blue and white 'Hundred Boys' jar, Mark and Period of Jiajing. Photo: Sotheby's. 

of ovoid form, well potted with gently rounded sides rising to high shoulders and a straight neck, delicately painted around the exterior in shaded tones of cobalt with a continuous scene of the 'Hundred Boys' at play set in a lakeside garden beneath tall pine bearing clusters of needles, leafy bamboos and blossoming peony trees, with further lotus flowers drifting on the rippling lake, the boys playing with puppets, crickets, lanterns, dragon flies, riding a hobby horse and lighting firecrackers, all under scrolling clouds drapping the shoulder, the neck encircled by a chain of interlinked ruyiheads and diamonds, the base inscribed in underglaze blue with a six-character reign mark within double circles, wood cover; 30.4 cm., 12 in. Estimation 1,000,000 — 1,500,000 HKD (100,597 - 150,896 EUR) 

Provenance: A prominent Japanese museum collection (by repute). 

, bowls and vases. It represents the wish for many sons and descendants, particularly distinguished noble sons (guizi) who will pass the civil examination service with high honours. Another meaning of this motif is suggested by Rosemary E. Scott inPercival David Foundation of Chinese Art, London, 1989, p. 80, where she notes that scenes of boys at play may be linked to the Daoist theme of the old regaining their youth. The Jiajing emperor was a devout Daoist, hence Daoist iconography was much favoured and readily employed by artists working for the court.

A closely related jar was sold in our London rooms, 7th June 1988, lot 241; and another of slightly more globular shape was sold at Christie’s London, 25th November 1974, lot 235. For a Wanli mark and period example, see one from the collection of Dr. Michael L. Yuen, included in the exhibition The Fame of Flame. Imperial Wares of the Jiajing and Wanli Periods, Univeristy Museum and Art Gallery, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, 2009, cat. no. 59. 

Sotheby's. Important Ming Porcelain from a Private Collection. Hong Kong | 08 oct. 2013 - http://www.sothebys.com