A wucai rectangular 'dragon and phoenix' brush box and cover, Mark and period of Wanli | 明萬曆 五彩龍鳳紋長方筆盒 《大明萬曆年製》款

A Japanese private collection.

來源：

日本私人收藏

Wanli covered brush boxes of this type were typically painted in blue and white or wucai palette; the cover was decorated with either the 'dragon and phoenix' design as seen on the present piece, or with a 'double dragon' design. For similar wucai examples, see one in the Shanghai Museum, illustrated in Chugoku Toji Zenshu [Complete book of Chinese ceramics], vol. 21, Kyoto, 1981, pl. 38; and another sold in our New York rooms, 23rd March 2010, lot 75.

See also three wucai 'double dragon' comparables: the first one in the Tokyo National Museum, illustrated in the Hirota Collection Catalogue, cat. no. 151; another in the Ise Collection, illustrated in The Enchanting Chinese Ceramics from the Ise Collection, Museum of Oriental Ceramics, Osaka, 2017, cat. no. 65; and a third example illustrated in Masterpieces from Kurokawa Institute of Ancient Cultures, Hyogo, 1990, pl. 83.