Lot 72. A very rare wucai 'phoenix' jardinière, Mark and period of Jiajing (1522-1566). Height 5⅞ in., 14.9 cm. Estimate: 10,000 - 15,000 USD. Lot sold: 25,200 USD. © Sothebys.

the base with a six-character mark in underglaze blue around a central drain hole. 

Exhibited: Exhibition of Polychrome Porcelain of the Ming and Manchu Dynasties, Oriental Ceramic Society, London, 1950, cat. no. 69.

Note: This exceptionally rare jardinière compares closely with a Jiajing mark and period wucai 'dragon' jardinière of the same bell-shaped form but complete with its original wide everted rim, formerly in the collection of the Toguri Museum, sold in our London rooms, 9th June 2004, lot 604, now in the Alan Chuang Collection, illustrated in Julian Thompson, The Alan Chuang Collection of Chinese Porcelain, Hong Kong, 2000, pl. 25.