Lot 1476. A rare blue and white molded 'Lotus' dish, Wanli six-character mark within a double circle and of the period (1573-1619); 7¾ in. (19.7 cm.) diam. Estimate USD 25,000 - USD 35,000. Price realised USD 43,750. © Christie's Images Ltd 2011

Crisply molded as an open lotus flower raised on a short, narrow foot, painted in underglaze blue on the interior with a Tibetan character encircled by ruyi heads, from which radiate two rows of lotus petals, the outer row enclosing spiral motifs, the upper tier of petals is painted on the exterior with alternating Tibetan characters and floral sprays above a row of projecting petal tips detailed with blue lines.

Note: Other examples of blue and white lotus-form bowls with Wanli marks are illustrated by J. Ayers, The Baur Collection, vol. II, Geneva, 1969, no. A185; by Wang Qing-zheng, Underglaze Blue and Red, Shanghai, 1987, pl. 101; and by J. Harrison-Hall, Ming Ceramics in the British Museum, London, 2001, p. 313, nos. 11:101 and 11:102. Other recorded examples include one in Oriental Ceramics, The World's Great Collections, vol. 11, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Tokyo, 1982, no. 91. Another bowl of Wanli date, but unmarked, in the Institut Neerlandais, Paris, is illustrated by D. Lion-Goldschmidt, Ming Porcelain, New York, 1978, pls. 215 and 215a, where the author notes that these bowls were probably intended to hold offerings in Lamaist Buddhist temples. See, also, the Wanli-marked dish of nearly identical size, sold in our Hong Kong rooms, 27 May 2009, lot 1868.  

Christie's. Fine Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art Part I & II, 15 September 2011, New York