A rare wucai 'bird-and-flower' sectioned box and cover mark and period of Wanli

finely potted of circular section supported on a wide foot, the interior divided into a central flower-shaped section encircled by six radiating sections, the edges outlined in underglaze-blue, the exterior painted in bold tones of underglaze-blue, iron-red and yellow and green enamels with four cartouches containing pairs of birds perched in the branches of fruiting and flowering trees on a diaper ground, the wide domed cover with a similarly painted band encircling a central panel painted with birds among flowers and rockwork under ruyi cloud scrolls, the base inscribed with a six-character mark in underglaze-blue within double circles 

Collection of the Manno Art Museum.

Christie’s London, 21^st June 2001, lot 83.  

A closely related Wanli wucai box was sold at Christie’s London, 14/16^th December 1983, lot 393. See also a blue-and-white box of this form and similar painted design including the hexagonal lattice between the ogival panels, also with a Wanli reign mark and of the period, from the Hong Rui Tang collection, sold in our London rooms, 5^th December 1995, lot 400.