A LARGE WUCAI TEMPLE VASE, GU MARK AND PERIOD OF WANLI

the tall beaker vase with high bulbous mid-section painted with two yellow baskets and two blue bowls filled with assorted flowers, the gently splayed lower section with butterflies fluttering above flowers issuing rockwork, above a floral band at the foot, the upper section with a leafy floral scroll below a band of multi-coloured upright plantain leaves, below a classic scroll band with the horizontal six-character mark in underglaze-blue within a rectangular box around the galleried rim 

There is a small star crack on the neck and one around the belly. There is expected fritting to the mouth and the foot and a firing crack around the luting line on the body and another one around the foot. There is some light wear to the enamels. The condition of this vase should be considered to be quite good, as its condition is typical of large temple vases of this type.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

Vases with the design and size of the present lot are very rare, with only a small number of published comparable examples.  A wucai beaker vase of similar shape and painted decoration, also with a Wanli reign mark and of the period and illustrated in Anthony du Boulay, Christie's Pictorial History of Chinese Ceramics, Oxford, 1984, pl. 170, pl 1, was sold at Christie's London, 11th December 1978, lot 111.  A smaller vase (32cm high) with the same pattern is in the Matsuoka Art Museum, Japan and illustrated in Mayuyama, Seventy Years, vol. 1, Japan, 1976, pl. 916. 

Another related Wanli-marked zun example with flower baskets, dragons and phoenix, was included in the exhibition Imperial Overglaze-Enamelled Wares in the Late Ming Dynasty, Museum of Oriental Ceramics, Osaka, 1995, cat.no. 27. Compare another Wanli beaker vase of related form, the central body painted with birds amongst rocks and flowers and the neck decorated with dragons, in the Palace Museum, Beijing, included in Zhongguo taoci quanji, vol.13, Shanghai, 2000, pl. 129.