A FINE AND RARE SMALL BLUE AND WHITE 'LOTUS' MEIPING MARK AND PERIOD OF JIAJING

of stout meiping form, finely painted in Chenghua-style with a wide lotus scroll, the large flowers borne on an undulating stem surrounded by further flowers and leaves, between a border of stiff leaves above a key-fret band around the foot and a collar of overlapping leaves on the shoulder, the short waisted neck with a further key-fret border, the unglazed footrim encircling the stepped countersunk base with the mark inscribed within the central circle

E.T. Chow Collection.
Sotheby's Hong Kong, 25th November 1980, lot 15.
Sotheby's Hong Kong, 30th April 1996, lot 340.

The vase is in extremely good condition with only faint underglaze-blue cobalt smudges.
"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."

It is unusual to find a 'stepped base' on a Jiajing vase, which is more commonly associated with jars of the Xuande, and occasionally Chenghua, periods. No other vase of this form, size or decoration appears to have been published, although a taller vase of related form and distinctive decoration, with Jiajing reign mark and of the period, was sold in our New York rooms, 12^th June 1984, lot 263; and another was sold in our London rooms, 14^th July 1981, lot 84.

For the fifteenth century prototype, see two in the Sir Percival David Collection, now in the British Museum, London, published in Margaret Medley, Illustrated Catalogue of Underglaze Blue and Copper Red Decorated Porcelains, London, 1976, pl. V, fig. A608, and a Xuande example, with reign mark and of the period, pl. VI, fig. A634.