A BLUE AND WHITE 'DRAGON' JAR MARK AND PERIOD OF WANLI

of barrel shape, vividly painted around the exterior in bright tones of cobalt with four five-clawed dragons striding amongst clouds above a wavy sea, the base inscribed in underglaze blue with a six-character reign mark within a double-circle enclosed in a recessed medallion, wood stand and japanese lacquer cover and box

A private Japanese collection.

It is in overall good condition with a small shallow flake of approx. 0.6 cm to the inner mouthrim and some wear to the glaze on the interior. There are also a few light surface scratches and typical firing imperfections.
"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 closely related vessel, but of slightly larger size and with cover, was sold in these rooms, 31st October 1974, lot 83; and a wucai version, in the Shanghai Museum, Shanghai, is illustrated in The Complete Works of Chinese Ceramics, vol. 13, pt. II, Shanghai, 1999, pl. 120. Two wucai jars and covers of this form, but decorated with mythical beasts in a landscape, were sold in these rooms, the first from the collection of Iver Munthe Daae, sold 1st November 1994, lot 54, and the second, 5th October 2016, lot 110. Compare also a slightly smaller cylindrical cricket jar similarly decorated with dragons, but above a band of lappets and short foot, in the Palace Museum, Beijing, published in The Complete Collection of Treasures of the Palace Museum. Blue and White Porcelain with Underglazed Red (II), Shanghai, 2000, pl. 155.

The use of these drum-shaped vessels is not fully known; while some were probably made as cricket cages, others may have been used by the Wanli Emperor as containers for chess pieces. Due to the size of the present piece, it was probably too large for chess pieces and is more likely to have been used as a cricket jar.