Lot 6012. Property from an old Hong Kong family collection. A fine wucai ‘dragon’ rectangular incense burner, Mark and period of Wanli (1573-1620); w. 14.1 cm, wood cover and stand. Lot Sold 230,400 HKD (Estimate 180,000 - 250,000 HKD) © Sotheby's 2026
 

Note: A blue and white incense burner of this form from the Idemitsu Museum of Arts is illustrated in Imperial Overglaze-enamelled Wares in the Late Ming Dynasty, Osaka, 1995, pl. 735. Another, from the collection of Gustaf Hilleström, Stockholm, was exhibited in Ming Blue-and-white, Museum of Far Eastern Antiquities, Stockholm, 1964, cat. no. 75. A further example, from the collections of V.W. Shiro and Dr Wou Kiuan, was sold through our rooms on several occasions, most recently in our New York rooms, 23rd March 2022, lot 71.

Lot 6059. A fine pair of wucai 'Buddhist emblems’ saucers, Marks and period of Wanli (1573-1620); each 10.8 cm. Lot Sold 153,600 HKD (Estimate 120,000 - 250,000 HKD) © Sotheby's 2026
 

Provenance: Sotheby's London, 7th June 1994, lot 344.

Lot 6062. A wucai 'dragon' bowl, Mark and period of Wanli (1573-1620); 10.4 cm. Lot Sold 332,800 HKD (Estimate 100,000 - 200,000 HKD) © Sotheby's 2026
 

Provenance: Collection of Ira and Nancy Koger.6
Collection of Peter Scheinman (1932-2017).
Christie's New York, 23rd March 1995, lot 106.
 

Note: Compare a similar Wanli mark and period bowl from the T.Y. Chao Collection, included in the exhibition One Hundred Selected Pieces of Chingtechen Porcelain of the Ming and Ch’ing Dynasties from the Collection of the T.Y. Chao Family Foundation, Hong Kong Museum of Art, Hong Kong, 1978, cat. no. 38, and also sold in our Hong Kong rooms, 18th November 1986, lot 61.

Lot 6065. A fine and rare wucai 'dragon' box and cover, Mark and period of Wanli (1573-1620); overall 16 by 14 by 14 cm. Lot Sold 256,000 HKD (Estimate 200,000 - 400,000 HKD) © Sotheby's 2026
 

Note: Wanli boxes of square section are rare and this box is unusual for its vibrant dragon decoration. Compare a wucai box and cover of the same pattern from the Yokogawa Collection, included in the Illustrated Catalogue of the Tokyo National Museum, Chinese Ceramics II, Tokyo, 1990, cat. no. 324; one also with its original fitted cover, sold in Christie's Paris, 10th June 2009, lot 125; and another without cover, sold in Christie's Hong Kong, 30th May 2012, lot 4069.
 

See also a Wanli box of this form, enamelled with scenes of boys at play, published in Sekai toji zenshu [Ceramic Art of the World], vol. 11, Tokyo, 1955, fig. 169; another from the Manno Art Museum, sold at Christie's Hong Kong, 28th October 2002, lot 553; and a third example sold in our London rooms, 15th December 1981, lot 209.
 

Compare blue and white decorated boxes of this square form, also with Wanli reign marks and of the period, such as one painted with boys, sold in our London rooms, 15th April 1980, lot 260; and another picturing birds amongst trees, also sold in our London rooms, 17th July 1995, lot 57. A square Jiajing box is illustrated in The Complete Works of Chinese Ceramics, Shanghai, 1999, pl. 179.
 

Wanli wucai boxes of this size and decoration are known in various forms; for example see a barrel-shaped box published in The Complete Works of Chinese Ceramics, vol. 13, Shanghai, 1999, pl. 120; and a tall five-lobed box in the Idemitsu Museum of Art, Tokyo, included in the exhibition Imperial Overglaze-Enamelled Wares in the Late Ming Dynasty, Museum of Oriental Ceramics, Osaka, 1995, cat. no. 29.

Lot 6069. A fine small wucai ‘dragon’ jar and cover, Mark and period of Wanli (1573-1620); w. 5.9 cm. Lot Sold 358,400 HKD (Estimate 80,000 - 120,000 HKD) © Sotheby's 2026
 

Note: Two closely related examples, without covers and described as water coupes, are in the Beijing Palace Museum, accession nos xin-83197 and xin-130457. The continued appeal of this design is also reflected in two covered Kangxi period examples, both bearing apocryphal Wanli marks, in the same collection, accession nos gu-147295 and gu-146715). By reviving a Wanli period form and marking it with the earlier emperor’s name, these vessels may be understood as reflecting the Qing court’s admiration for late Ming imperial craftsmanship and its desire to situate itself within the established lineage of China’s imperial ceramic tradition.

Lot 6070. A fine and rare large wucai ‘dragon’ dish, Mark and period of Wanli (1573-1620); 38 cm, 38 cm. Lot Sold 448,000 HKD (Estimate 300,000 - 1,000,000 HKD) © Sotheby's 2026
 

Note: Notable for its remarkable size, this dish is vividly decorated with two five-clawed dragons in pursuit of a flaming pearl. Beyond its impressive scale, the piece is further elevated by its rare, delicately painted floral border.

Compare a related Wanli mark and period dish, decorated with a similar dragon design but with a dragon border, which was sold in these rooms, 2nd June 2016, lot 816. See also an unmarked dish of this dragon design in the Idemitsu Museum of Arts, Tokyo, illustrated in Chinese Ceramics of the Idemitsu Collection, Tokyo, 1987, pl. 758.