Lot 78217. A Large and Rare Chinese Blue and White Porcelain Windswept Jar, Guan, Ming Dynasty, 15th century, 13-7/8 inches high (35.2 cm). Estimate: $30,000 - $50,000. SOLD FOR: $87,500.00. Courtesy of Heritage Auctions.

The jar having reticulated carved rosewood lid, neck adorned with banded scrollwork in blue underglaze, shoulder with repeating crosshatching and foliate cartouches, body decorated with Xiwangmu, "Queen Mother of West" holding a basket of peaches and flanked by two female attendants, eight figures likely depicting the Eight Immortals, boy with deer, and scholars engaged in a game of go, raised on carved rosewood base. Jar, stand, and lid measure 21 inches high (53.3 cm).

Jar with some hairlines to interior and exterior lip and neck, some dirt accretions, age and use-related staingin, base and interior with hairlines possibly inherent to manufacturing, firing pock marks to neck inherent to manufacture. Carved rosewood dome to lid appears reglued and is of 19th century vintage, carved rosewood base with minor chipping, presenting very well.  

Provenance: Collection of Frank Gair Macomber (1849-1941);
Thence by descent to present owner.

Note: Frank Gair Macomber was born in Jamaica Plain, Massachusetts and began work in the marine insurance business at the age of 14. Following the establishment of his own firm and throughout a successful career in marine insurance, Macomber became an important collector and patron of the arts in Boston. He was Honorary Curator of Decorative Arts at the Boston Museum of Fine Arts and a member of many art groups in the community. He collected rare books, armor, tapestries and 16th through 18th century paintings from the Spanish, Italian and Flemish Schools. Macomber organized an important Whistler exhibit at the Boston MFA in 1914 and over a 20-year period donated several art objects to the MFA. His collection of arms was sold to the Cleveland Museum of Art, for which there was published an 8-volume catalogue.

Heritage Auctions. 2017 September 12 Asian Art Signature Auction - New York #5334