Lot 3187. A rare Ming blue and white 'dragon and phoenix' cup stand, Wanli six character mark in underglaze blue within a double circle and of the period (1573-1619); 4 3/4 in. (12.5 cm.) diam. Estimate HKD 200,000 - HKD 300,000. Price Realized HKD 225,000. © Christie's Image Ltd 2015

The shallow ridge to the centre of the cup stand is finely painted with a foliate meander encircled by a five-clawed dragon and a phoenix. The well is decorated with a loose flowering branch meander surrounded by wispy clouds below the foliate rim. The reverse is decorated utilising the foliate rim to depict leaf lappets outlined in blue, box.

Provenance: Sold at Christie's New York, 29 June 1984, lot 389

Christie's. IMPORTANT CHINESE CERAMICS AND WORKS OF ART, Hong Kong, 2 December 2015