A LARGE AND BRILLIANTLY ENAMELLED CLOISONNE BASIN MING DYNASTY, WANLI PERIOD

the deep straight sides rising to a broad flattened galleried rim, the interior brightly decorated in multi-coloured enamels against a deep turquoise ground with a yellow, a dark blue and a green Buddhistic lion, each finely detailed with a fierce expression, flaming haunches, spiralling spine and a bushy tail, frolicking around a beribboned brocade ball picked out with a 'cash'-diaper ground, all within a circle of ruyi below multi-coloured lotus scrolls with attendant buds blanketing the cavetto, wreathed by profuse foliage and further repeated on the rim, the exterior and the base left plain

A & J Speelman, London, 2005.

The basin is generally in quite good condition with the expected small burst air bubbles in the enamels and minor losses in areas.
"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 basin is notable for its playful and bold design; its pair, in the Palace Museum, Beijing, is illustrated in Compendium of Collections in the Palace Museum. Enamels, vol. 2, Beijing 2011, pl. 94. A basin of this type and decoration, but the everted rim enamelled with butterflies hovering amongst flower plants emerging from rockwork, from the collection of Lord Greville, was sold three times in our London rooms, most recently 14^th December 1976, lot 276; two further examples were also sold in our London rooms, 1^st July 1969, lot 30, and the other, 13^th November 1972, lot 129; and a fourth example was sold at Christie’s London, 15^th July 1981, lot 60.

The subject of Buddhist lions playing with beribboned balls dates back to blue and white porcelain of the early Ming dynasty, such as a jar attributed to the Yongle period (1403-1424) illustrated in Regina Krahl, Chinese Ceramics from the Meiyintang Collection, London, 1994-2010, vol. 4, no. 1643, and sold twice in these rooms, 1^st November 1999, lot 312, and again, 7^th April 2011, lot 51. The vibrant design presents many auspicious associations symbolising physical and spiritual power and conveying wishes for high rank.