AN IRON-RED AND GREEN-ENAMELLED DISH MARK AND PERIOD OF JIAJING

with shallow rounded sides rising from a short tapered foot to a flared rim, the interior pencilled in black and filled with green enamel, depicting four boys in a garden landscape among shrubs and pierced rocks, making a marionette dance to the sound of drum and cymbals, with similar scenes repeated to the exterior as a frieze, all reserved on a rich iron-red ground save for white at the rim and the base, the base inscribed with a six-character reign mark in underglaze blue

John Sparks Ltd, London, 1967.
Collection of Roger Pilkington (1928-69), from 1967 (£1700, one of a pair).

Adrian Joseph, Ming Porcelains: Their Origins and Development, London, 1971, pl. 48.

The dish is in very good condition except for wear to the iron-red glaze of the central well as illustrated, while the glaze is well preserved on the exterior, apart from a glaze pull of green glaze on an immortal's leg. The actual colour of the piece is of a darker tone than 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. 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."

Depictions of children on porcelains became more prolific during the Jiajing reign (1522-66) in response to the Emperor’s wish for many sons. Concern over the continuation of the imperial line was particularly felt at court as no male heir was produced during the first ten years of his reign. The motifs seen on this dish include elements associated with the imperial court, such as the peony sprays growing from rockwork, which had historically been grown at court since the Sui (581-618) and Tang (618-907) dynasties.

A dish decorated with this design was included in the Japan Ceramic Society exhibition Gen Min meihin ten/Exhibition of Yüan and Ming Ceramics, Tokyo, 1956, cat. no. 147; and another from the collections of A. Lundgren and Hans Öström, illustrated in L. Reidemeister, Ming-Porzellane in Schwedischen Sammlungen, Berlin, 1935, pl. 32a, was sold at Christie’s London, 11th July 2006, lot 119.