Lot 3652. A wucai ‘Dragon and Phoenix’ fan-shaped cricket case, mark and period of Wanli (1573-1619); 9.8 cm, 3 7/8  in. Estimate 300,000 — 400,000 HKD (38,217 - 50,956 USD). Unsold. Courtesy Sotheby's.

with straight sides rising from a knife-pared foot, each facet brightly enamelled with a leaping five-clawed dragon pursuing a flaming pearl beside a swooping phoenix, all amidst leafy sprays issuing stylised flower heads and within underglaze-blue double-line borders, the glazed base inscribed with a six-character reign mark in a scallop-edged rectangular cartouche, reticulated metal cover.

Provenance: Sotheby's Hong Kong, 26th October 1993, lot 61.