Lot 2963. A wucai cricket jar, Ming dynasty, 16th -17th century; 14.5 cm., 5 3/4 in. Estimate 150,000 — 200,000 HKD. Lot sold 187,500 HKD (15,233 EUR) (24,073 USD). Courtesy Sotheby's 2008.

the deep straight sides of the cylindrical container slightly bowing in the middle, painted on the exterior in green, turquoise, yellow and iron-red enamels with large peony blooms issuing from rocks and birds perched on branches, fitted with a later black lacquer cover.

Provenance: Formerly in a Japanese Collection. 

Note: The present lot most likely was used as the arena for fighting crickets. The light scratches on the interior give possible evidence as to the original use of this container.  It most likely would have had a matching porcelain cover with pierced holes.  See a similar Kangxi period cricket jar in the Shanghai Museum, illustrated in Wang Qingzheng et al., Kangxi Porcelain Wares from the Shanghai Museum, Hong Kong, 1998, cat.no. 114. 

The painting decoration is seen on 16th century pieces including a stembowl in the Musée Guimet, illustrated in Xavier Besse, La Chine des porcelaines, Paris, 2004, cat.no. 14.  See also a dish in the Palace Museum, Beijing, with a similar bird and flower decoration, illustrated in The Complete Collection of Treasures of the Palace Museum, Hong Kong, 1999, no. 2.

Sotheby's. Fine Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art, Hong Kong, 11 Apr 2008