Lot 1063. A wucai 'Zhong Kui' dish, Wanli six-character mark in underglaze blue within a double circle and of the period (1573-1619); 8 1/8 in. (20.7 cm.) diam. Estimate USD 25,000 - USD 35,000. © Christie’s Images Limited 2019.

The dish is decorated on the interior with a scene of the Daoist immortal Zhong Kui, the Demon Queller, holding a sword in his right hand while pulling the hair of a small, angry demon beside him, below a band of continuous double-gourd scroll in the well. The exterior is decorated with the Eight Buddhist Emblems above lotus sprigs, and a band of classic scroll encircling the foot, Japanese wood box. 

Note: Wanli dishes of this design are more commonly found in blue and white, and are very rare in wucai. Compare two blue and white dishes with Wanli marks that are similarly decorated with figural scenes as well as the unusual band of double-gourd scroll in the well, the depiction of the bajixiang on the exterior and the band of classic scroll on the foot, illustrated by J. Harrison-Hall, Ming Ceramics in the British Museum, London, 2001, pp. 319, nos. II:117 and II:118. Discussing no. II:117, the author notes that the dish "illustrates Ming openness to the unity of both Buddhist and Daoist iconography on a single object," which is also true of the present dish.