Lot 274. A blue and white square baluster jar and cover, Jiajing six-character mark in underglaze blue within a double rectangle and of the period (1522-1566); 8 3/8 in. (21.2 cm.) high. Estimate USD 15,000 - USD 18,000. Price realised USD 29,800. © Christie's Images Ltd 2007 

Each side painted with a dragon leaping amidst scrolling, leafy stems of lotus, above a band of petal lappets below and a ruyi band on the shoulder, with a key-fret band around the square neck, the cover painted with a tiny auspicious emblem at each corner below a band of leaf scroll and the stepped center surmounted by a faceted blue knop, wood box. 

Provenance: Hirano Kotoken, Japan.
Japanese private collection. . 

Note: Compare with the Jiajing-marked jar of similar form and decoration illustrated by J. Ayers in The Baur Collection, Chinese Ceramics, vol. II, Geneva, 1969, no. A155.    

Christie's. Fine Chinese Ceramics, Jades and Works of Art, 19 September 2007, New York