A WUCAI 'HUNDRED DEER' VASE WANLI MARK AND PERIOD

brightly enamelled around the body in green, yellow, iron-red and brown  enamels with auspicious 'hundred deer' design, the animals depicted resting, grazing and at playful leisure in landscape scenes, between a band of stylised lappets to the foot rim and hanging motifs suspended from a scrollwork border to the shoulder, the neck with floral sprays

This brightly enamelled jar has restoration and overpainting to cracks and breaks around the neck, shoulder and lower body and the base has possibly been detached.
"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."

A related Wanli 'Hundred Deer' vase, in the National Palace Museum, Taipei, is illustrated in Minji meihin zuroku, vol. II, Tokyo, 1978, pl. 101; one formerly in the collection of Tamisuke Yokogawa is included in the Illustrated Catalogue of Tokyo National Museum. Chinese Ceramics, vol. II, Tokyo, 1990, pl. 330; another is published in Sekai toji zenshu, vol. 14, Tokyo, 1976, pl. 218; and a fourth example from the collection of Ernest Gandidier in the Musee Guimet, Paris, is illustrated in Oriental Ceramics. The World's Great Collections, vol. 7, Tokyo, 1981, col. pl. 26. See also one sold in these rooms, 10^th November 2004, lot 564; and another, but without a reign mark, sold at Christie's London, 7^th November 2006, lot 184.

The design on this vase is rich with auspicious meaning; in Chinese tradition the deer is symbolic of longevity due to being the only animal capable of finding the lingzhi fungus of immortality, and is thus often depicted with Shoulao, the God of Longevity. 'Hundred deer' (bai lu) is homophonous with hundred emoluments and represents the wish, 'May you receive the hundred emoluments from heaven'.