A VERY RARE ARMORIAL BLUE AND WHITE JAR FOR THE PORTUGUESE MARKET MING DYNASTY, WANLI PERIOD,CIRCA 1590

the robustly potted ovoid body with short straight neck, painted around the exterior in rich cobalt-blue tones with six pentagonal panels, each enclosing a monastery variously above arms of the Augustinians, elephants, lions and peacocks, the smaller panels around the neck enclosing similar scenes 

This rare jar is in very good overall condition with the exception of some minor fitting around the rim, a 6cm., long hairline firing line to the inside of the neck, a circa 13cm hairline firing line to the interior of the shoulder (not visible externally), a hairline glaze line around the luting line of approximately half of the vessel, some minor firing imperfections including iron-spot glaze imperfections, pinhead-sized glaze holes and light glaze scratches.
"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."

This impressive jar bears the symbols of the Order of St. Augustine, and it is recorded that a number were at the Convent of the Order founded at Macao in 1589. At this time there was a busy Spanish trans-Pacific trade from China to Mexico by way of the Philippines, with porcelain and other cargoes being transported by land to the Gulf port of Vera Cruz and thence onwards to Spain (see David S. Howard, The Choice of the Private Trader, London, 1994, p. 231).

A closely related example in the Hodroff collection is illustrated ibid., pl. 272; one in the G. Alpoim Calvao collection was included in the exhibition The Porcelain Route. Ming and Qing Dynasties, Fundacao Oriente, Lisbon, 1998, cat. no. 12; a pair was sold in our New York rooms, 5^th May 1979, lot 103; and another was sold at Christie's Amsterdam, 23^rd October 1986, lot 17. A jar of this type is in the Museo Nationale do Arte Antique, Lisbon, In. no. 6917; and a hexagonal version was sold in these rooms, 11^th July 1966, lot 206.