A RARE BLUE AND WHITE SPRINKLER MING DYNASTY, JIAJING PERIOD

painted throughout in underglaze-blue, the convex-shaped foot supporting three consecutive bulging sections, each interspersed by waisted bands, the lowest section with rounded sides painted with encircled stylized shou characters divided by flanges, the central section of square form, the four facets decorated with a rooster, tiger, hare, and carp within foliate panels, the flanges repeated on each corner, all below a tall waisted neck painted with coin symbols, culminating in the head modeled as a lotus pod with seven small 'seed' openings, the concave base glazed white

Private Collection, Belgium, circa 1957 (according to label).

There are a few pinhead chips to the glaze around the apertures, and the blue has fired to a dark greenish-grey color. There are also a few glaze pulls in the recessed areas between the petals. There are several burst air bubbles around the top of the first knop, the largest is approx ¼ inch round and is actually a glaze chip. There some minor pinhead glaze chips on the flanges of the lower knop and an iron spot low down on this section. There is also a ¼ inch glaze pull on the waisted section. The foot has a ¼ inch iron spot on the edge, and some minor fritting, some of which is filled with an old creamy colored filler. This is very minor. The blue is paler than in the catalogue illustration.
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.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING CONDITION OF A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE PRINTED IN THE CATALOGUE.

Blue and white sprinklers from the Ming dynasty are extremely rare and no other example appears to have been published, although it should be compared to pear-shaped vases with bulbous mouths and two rows of flanges; see a vase similarly composed of two rows of flanges encasing medallion-type decoration from the Ernest Grandidier Collection in the Musee Guimet, collection no. G 4578; and a slightly later vase, also with a lotus pod mouth, sold in our London rooms, 5th July 1977, lot 222.