Lot 3117. A fine and rare late Ming blue and white pierced rectangular covered box, Wanli six-character mark within double-rectangles and of the period (1573-1619); 10 1/8 in. (25.5 cm.) wide. Estimate HK$300,000 - HK$400,000 ($38,804 - $51,738). Price Realized HK$680,000 ($87,924). © Christie's Images Ltd., 2010

Of rectangular form standing on bracket feet, the pierced cover finely painted in vibrant purplish-blue tones with a large shaped cartouche containing lotus blooms supporting the bajixiang borne on scrolling stems, all reserved on a diaper ground with lingzhi sprays at each corner, the sides of the box and cover with pairs of confronted five-clawed dragons in pursuit of 'flaming pearls' bordered by bands of classic scroll at the rims, box. 

Note: Compare with a Wanli-marked box of the same size and identical design from the Raoul Wallenberg Collection included in the exhibition, Ming Dyansty Blue and White, Museum of Far Eastern Antiquities, Stockholm, 1964, illustrated in the Catalogue, no. 69. A rectangular wucai decorated box of the same size and design was sold at Christie's New York, 7 May 1999, lot 109. Another very similar wucai decorated example is illustrated in Sekai toji zenshu, Tokyo, 1955, vol. 11, no. 117

A Wanli-marked blue and white pierced circular sweetmeat box of related design with bands of dragons encircling a central roundel containing lotus and Buddhist emblems was sold at Christie's Hong Kong, 7 July 2003 (Catalogue dated 28 April 2003), lot 652.

Christie's. Important Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art, 1 December 2010, Hong Kong