Lot 1394. A late Ming blue and white 'Three Friends of Winter' jar, Wanli six-character mark and of the period (1573-1619); 7 1/2 in. (19.1 cm.) high. Estimate HKD 90,000 - HKD 120,000. Price realised HKD 108,000. © Christie's Images Ltd 2006. 

The oviform jar painted with the Three Friends of Winter, pine, prunus and bamboo, growing from rocks and breaking waves, the coiling stems forming stylised auspicious characters Fu Shou Kang Ning, 'prosperity, longevity, health and peace', alternated withlingzhi stems repeated as a continuous scroll at the shoulder, the short cylindrical neck encircled by upright stiff leaves, box.

Note: This pattern originated from the Jiajing period. Other Wanli-marked versions of this jar include an example exhibited at the Oriental Ceramic Society, London, Chinese Blue and White, 1954, Catalogue no. 182; and another of larger size (23.5 cm.) from the Jingguantang Collection, sold in our New York Rooms, 16 September 1998, lot 365. Compare a similar Jiajing-marked jar, previously from the collection of Mr. and Mrs. Alfred Clark, sold in these Rooms, 28 November 2005, lot 1426.  

Christie's. Important Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art, Hong Kong, 30 May 2006