Lot 1562. A blue and white circular box and cover, Wanli six-character mark in underglaze blue within a double circle and of the period (1573-1619); 10 7/8 in. (24.7 cm.) diam. Estimate USD 30,000 - USD 50,000. Price realised USD 32,500. © Christie's Image Ltd 2020.
The domed top is decorated with nine cranes in flight amidst clouds, peaches, lingzhi and auspicious emblems. The sides are decorated with shaped panels each containing two cranes and a peach set on a diaper ground.
Provenance: Christie's London, 11 July 1977, lot 108.
The Lenora and Walter F. Brown Collection, San Antonio, Texas.
Note: A related Wanli-marked example is illustrated in The Complete Collection of Treasures of the Palace Museum - 35 - Blue and White Porcelain with Underglaze Red (II), Hong Kong, 2000, pl. 109. Other examples are illustrated in Chinese Ceramics in The Idemitsu Collection, Japan, 1987, fig. 732; one from the Toguri Collection, illustrated in Sekai toji zenshu, vol. 14, Tokyo, 1976, pl. 103, which was sold at Sotheby's London, 9 June 2004, lot 43.
Christie's. Important Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art, New York, 25 September 2020
