A BLUE AND WHITE CIRCULAR BOX AND COVER WANLI MARK AND PERIOD

the exterior of the cover painted with a 'flaming pearl' supported on a stylized blossom surrounded by blossoms supporting the 'Eight Daoist symbols' (babao) and repeated on the sides of the cover and box, the base inscribed with a six-character mark in underglaze-blue within a double circle

Christie's New York, 22nd/23rd March 2012, lot 1986.

The box and cover are in good condition with the exception of four circa 2.5cm., long parallel scratches to the cover, a 1mm., rim chip to the cover, two small firing imperfections to the base of the footring, and light overall scratching to the cover.
"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."

Finely painted with the Eight Daoist symbols (babao) above lingzhi sprays, this box closely follows Jiajing mark and period originals, such as a box from the Raoul Wallenberg collection, included in the exhibition Ming Blue-And-White, Ostasiatiska Museet, Stockholm, 1964, cat. no. 55, sold in these rooms in 1974, and at Christie’s New York in 1981, 1985, 1988 and again, 1^st June 1990, lot 205.

A closely related box was sold in our Hong Kong rooms, 16^th May 1989, lot 122; and another was sold in our New York rooms, 18^th March 2014, lot 237. See also a rectangular pierced box, painted with a related lingzhi scroll supporting the Buddhist bajixiang symbols enclosed in a lobed cartouche, also from the collection of Raoul Wallenberg, included ibid.,cat. no. 69, and sold in these rooms, 2^nd/3^rd December 1974, lot 278.

This motif is also known on Wanli mark and period boxes decorated in the wucai palette; compare a slightly smaller circular box sold in our Hong Kong rooms in 1978, in our Los Angeles rooms in 1980, and again in our Hong Kong rooms, 17^th May 1988, lot 147; and a rectangular box in the Holger Lauritzen collection, illustrated in Jan Wirgin, ‘Ming Porcelain in the Lauritzen Collection’, BMFEA, no. 37, Stockholm, 1965, pl. 34.