Lot 74. A rare iron-red and underglaze-blue decorated square-form vase, gu, Wanli six-character mark in underglaze-blue within a rectangle and of the period (1573-1620). Estimate £40,000 – £60,000 ($58,240 - $87,360). Photo Christie's Image Ltd 2016.

The vase is decorated to the exterior with five-clawed dragons amidst foliage, with a moulded Buddhist lion head on each side of the mid-section. The mouth rim is surrounded by a key-fret border, with one side enclosing a rectangular panel showing the six-character reign mark. 22 5/8 in. (57.5 cm.) high 

Provenance: From a private English collection.
Formerly in a private collection in New York, acquired prior to 1941. 

Christie's. INSPIRED THEMES: A FINE SELECTION OF CHINESE WORKS OF ART, 10 May 2016, London, King Street