A rare wucai 'antiques' bowl, Mark and period of Wanli | 明萬曆 五彩博古紋盌 《大明萬曆年製款》

Collection of Ninomiya Kaneichi (1898–1996).

Ehime Bunkakan, Imabari, prior to 1955.

Christie’s New York, 22nd – 23rd September 2022, lot 906.

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二宮兼一（1898-1996）收藏

愛媛文華館，今治市，1955年前入藏

紐約佳士得，2022年9月22-23日，編號906

This rare wucai deep bowl, with its gently flared rim, reflects the Wanli period’s interest in vibrant polychrome decoration, auspicious symbolism, and antiquarian themes. The exterior is painted with three iron-red stands, each bearing a selection of antique objects—including vases, ewers, and jardinières—enamelled in aubergine, yellow, and green. These are interspersed with jardinières painted in underglaze blue and filled with ornamental rocks and foliage. The composition is framed at the top by a wide border of ruyi-heads, clouds, and beribboned jewels—motifs often associated with Daoist iconography and auspicious meaning.

The interior is centred with a medallion depicting a five-clawed dragon in underglaze blue and iron red, encircling a flaming pearl. This classic imperial motif is closely associated with authority, protection, and cosmic order.

Compare a closely related example preserved in the National Palace Museum, Taipei (accession no. gu ci 003946), illustrated on the Museum's website; and another from the collection of R.F.A Riesco (1877-1964), sold at Christie's Hong Kong, 27th November 2013, lot 3121.

此件五彩深腹碗，口沿外撇，展現萬曆朝對色彩運用、吉祥紋飾與仿古題材的興趣。外壁以礬紅描繪三座博古台，上置瓶、壺、盆景等古器，分別以紫釉、黃釉及綠釉描繪，色彩明快，錯落有致。其間穿插以青花繪製的花盆，內飾奇石與花葉，構圖靜謐而富層次。碗口下緣繞以一圈如意雲頭、祥雲與纏帶寶飾紋，屬道教常見圖案，寓意吉祥、長壽與護佑。碗心以青花及礬紅繪一團龍紋，五爪帝龍盤旋追逐火珠，象徵皇權、守護與天地秩序。

比較一件幾乎相同之例，現藏於臺北國立故宮博物院（館藏編號：故瓷003946），印證此類器物之宮廷屬性與製作水準、以及R.F.A Riesco所藏的一件，售於香港佳士得，2013年11月27日，編號3121。