Lot 2813. A rare small wucai ‘Lantern festival’ dish, Wanli six-character mark in underglaze blue within a double circle and of the period (1573-1619); 5 in. (12.7 cm.) diam. Estimate HKD 150,000 - HKD 280,000. Price realised HKD 350,000. © Christie's Images Ltd 2017

The centre of the dish is painted with two figures carrying lanterns through a garden, enclosed within a band of lotus scroll on the cavetto. The exterior is further decorated with four lanterns alternating with beribboned precious objects, including a scroll, a coin, a lozenge, and an ingot. 

Provenance: Avery Brundage (by repute)
Moy Ying Ming Gallery, Chicago, acquired in 1969 

Exhibited: San Antonio Museum of Art, San Antonio, Texas, 1984-2017

Note: Dishes of similar size and design include a pair from the Christina Loke Balsara Collection, sold at Christie’s Hong Kong, 19 January 1988, lot 262; and a pair from the E.T. Chow Collection, sold at 25 November 1980, lot 30, again at Sotheby’s Hong Kong, 2 May 2000, lot 627.

Christie's. Important Chinese Ceramics from The Dr. James D. Thornton Collection, 29 November 2017, Hong Kong