A Rare Chongzhen jar, Colégio de São Paulo - Macau Service, ca. 1640, Ming Dynasty, Chongzheng Period, ca. 1640 (Transitional period). Photo VERITAS ART AUCTIONEERS

Chinese porcelain.Cobalt blue underglaze decoration. The body decorated with floral motifs and two bands, one depicting oriental landscape and the other two faces with necklaces flanked by scrolls. Handle depicting clouds. (broken spout, minor chips and handle with minor glazing losses). Alt.: 22 cm. Estimation : 22 000 € / 28 000 €

The piece was commissioned for the Colégio de São Paulo, Macau, founded by the Jesuits in 1594

Note : In the Medeiros e Almeida collection and the British Museum in London, there are two pots, although a little more remote, with similar decoration, representing winged faces in relief.

Bibliography : Calvão (coord.), João Rodrigues, "Caminhos da Porcelana - Dinastias Ming e Qing", Fundação Oriente, pp. 160 e 161; Castro, Nuno de, "A Porcelana Chinesa ao Tempo do Império", p. 338.

VERITAS ART AUCTIONEERS. Antiquités et Objets d'Art, Argenterie et Bijoux. 24 Juin 2014 à 21h. AV. ELIAS GARCIA, 157 A/B 1050-099 LISBOA. Contact:: Igor Olho-Azul +351 21 794 8000 - info@veritasleiloes.com.