Lot 850. A blue and white pomegranate ewer, Wanli period (1573-1619); 6 5/8 in. (16.8 cm.) high, Japanese wood box. Estimate: USD 6,000 - USD 8,000. Price realised USD 10,625. © Christie's 2021

The bulbous lower body is decorated with vertical panels enclosing leafy flower blossoms beneath a key-fret border at the base of the slender neck. The curved spout is decorated as a branch with molded leaves. The exterior of the flaring, star-form mouth rim is decorated with cicadas.

Note: The popular name for this type of kendi is 'pomegranate’ ewer, owing to the distinctive star-shaped mouth rim. A similar ewer in the Fondation Custodia (Coll. F. Lugt), Institut Néerlandais, Paris, is illustrated by Maura Rinaldi in Kraak Porcelain, A Moment in the History of Trade, London, 1989, pl. 277, where the author suggests a date of circa 1595-1610 for this type of kendi. A related ‘pomegranate’ ewer, from the collection of John and Julia Curtis, sold at Christie’s New York, 16 March 2015, lot 3500.