Lot 2993. A fine late Ming blue and white 'lotus' jar, Wanli six-character mark within double-circles and of the period (1573-1619). Estimate HKD 500,000 - HKD 800,000 (USD 65,000 - USD 100,000). Price Realised HKD 500,000 (USD 64,488). © Christie's Images Ltd 2011

The high-shouldered body superbly painted in purplish-blue cobalt with large lotus blooms arranged in three registers growing on undulating stems issuing curled leaves, all set between double-line borders and bands of interlocking scrolls below the rim and above the foot - 6 1/2 in. (16.4 cm.) high, stand, Japanese wood box.  

Provenance: A Japanese private collection

Note: A number of Jiajing and Wanli-marked jars of this size and pattern are known but very few examples display the fine painting and superb control of the cobalt-blue found on the present example.

Compare with a jar included in the Exhibition of Sung and Ming Treasures from the Laurizen Collection, Museum of Far Eastern Antiquities, Stockholm, 1965, Cat. no. 74. A Jiajing-marked example of comparable size and decoration was sold at Sotheby's Hong Kong, 24-25 November 1981, lot 85.

Christie's. Important Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art, 30 November 2011, Hong Kong