Lot 283. A rare blue and white peach-form ewer, Jiajing six-character mark in underglaze blue and of the period (1522-1566); 8 in. (20.5 cm.) high. Estimate USD 15,000 - USD 18,000. Price realised USD 29,800. © Christie's Images Ltd 2007  

Each side molded with a peach-shaped panel enclosing a pair of dragons leaping above waves and a rock as they contest a flaming pearl, surrounded by cranes and sprigs of lingzhi and peaches, with a band of petal tips below and a ruyi band on the waisted neck below a band of key fret encircling the galleried rim, with sprigs of lingzhi on the handle and faceted spout, Japanese wood box.  

Provenance: Kochukyo, Japan.
Japanese private collection. 

Note: A Jiajing-marked blue and white ewer of this shape with similar dragon and pearl decoration in the Ashmolean Museum is illustrated by D. Lion-Goldschmidt, Ming Ceramics, New York, 1978, p. 142, pl. 122. Another very similar Jiajing-marked example was sold Sotheby's, New York, 26-27 September 1978, lot 54. A Jiajing-marked ewer of this shape but with decoration of boys at play within the peach-shaped panel is illustrated in the Special Exhibition Commemorating the 10th Anniversary of the Idemitsu Collection, Tokyo, 1976, no. 129.      

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