Lot 848. A rare large blue and white ‘fu lu shou’ jar, guan, Jiajing six-character mark in underglaze blue and of the period (1522-1566); 19 in. (49.5 cm.) high. Estimate: USD 30,000 - USD 50,000. Price realised USD 81,250. © Christie's Images Ltd 2014

The heavily-potted body is decorated with prunus, pine and bamboo comprising the ‘Three Friends of Winter,’ their branches twisted to form the characters fu, lu, and shou (‘good fortune, prosperity and longevity’), all between a band of interlocked ruyi heads alternating with shou characters on the shoulder and a further ruyi band below.

Provenance: Alfred E. Guntermann (1943-2013) Collection.

Christie’s. FINE CHINESE CERAMICS AND WORKS OF ART, 18 – 19 September 2014, New York, Rockefeller Plaza.