A fine small wucai 'boys and offerings' bowl, Wanli six-character mark and of the period. Photo: Bonhams.

Potted with shallow rounded sides rising from a short slightly spreading foot, the exterior decorated with two boys holding cash-roundel offerings, one walking in front of a spotted deer and the other in front of an ox, within a landscape with distant mountain peaks behind scrolling clouds, all below a narrow band comprising leafy floral sprays, the interior with a central circular medallion enclosing a stylised dragon-fish amidst flames, the base with an Imperial underglaze-blue kaishu mark within a double circle. 10.5cm diam. Estimate HK$ 750,000 - 850,000 (€71,000 - 80,000). Unsold.

Provenance: Acquired in Japan

Although the 'boys and offerings' decorative motifs is common and popular during the Jiajing and Wanli periods, however no other known examples from museums and private collections appear to match the quality and auspicious motifs as exhibited by the current lot. 

The dragon fish motif as depicted towards the interior within double circles is extremely rare. The carp or liyutransforming into a dragon or long is associated with the passing of civil service examinations, hence the pun 'yutiao Longmen'. According to traditional folklore, carp swim upstream in the Yellow River at Hunan towards the Dragon Gate waterfall at Longmen. It is said that the first carp which successfully surpasses the rapids will transform into a dragon fish or yulong. Such legend has led to the common saying that, 'a student facing his examinations is like a carp attempting to leap the Dragon Gate', which bears the metaphor for a poor scholar who passes the civil service examinations and becomes a high official.

The cavetto of the wucai bowl is also decorated with many other auspicious motifs, including young boys which signifies abundance in offspring; peaches and deer which symbolises longevity; the qilin also suggests talent and high standing in society.

For further reference, please see related examples of Wanli period wucai bowls with boys carrying offerings in the Palace Museum, Beijing, illustrated in Porcelain in Polychrome and Contrasting Colour. The Complete Treasures of the Palace Museum, Shanghai, 1999, pp.56-57, pl.52 and 53.

Bonhams. FINE CHINESE CERAMICS AND WORKS OF ART, Hong Kong, Admiralty, 26 May 2014 - http://www.bonhams.com/