A wucai ‘qilin’ saucer dish, Mark and period of Wanli | 明萬曆 五彩麒麟獻寶小盤 《大明萬曆年製》款

Japanese private family collection, Osaka.

Daisho, Tokyo, June 2017.

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日本私人收藏，大阪

Daisho，東京，2017年6月

This rare imperial saucer dish is distinguished by the lively depiction of an iron-red qilin at the centre, depicted with head raised in a proud stance, bearing a ceremonial lantern, fluttering banners and a tiered canopy on its back—all auspicious motifs symbolising the arrival of virtue and enlightened rule. The mythical beast is surrounded by beribboned treasures and ruyi-shaped clouds, emblems of blessing and authority. The rim is adorned with a finely composed scrolling green branch bearing eight evenly spaced floral blooms, creating a harmonious contrast between the rhythmic border and the animated centre. The underside continues the decorative theme with further lanterns, banners and auspicious objects.

Compare a similar dish preserved in the collection of the National Museum of China, Beijing, attesting to the imperial quality and rarity of such pieces; and another closely related example, sold in our Hong Kong rooms from the collection of Roger Pilkington (1928-69), 5th April 2016, lot 49.

本小盤中心描繪一鐵紅色麒麟昂首挺立，背負宮燈、彩幡及懸掛華蓋，寓意祥瑞降臨、太平有象。麒麟行於如意雲氣與綬帶寶物之間，象徵福祿壽喜與帝德昌明。盤心四周飾以纏枝綠葉環繞八朵花卉，構圖疏朗有致，色彩清新雅緻，與中心熱鬧生動之主題形成鮮明對比。盤緣亦繪以彩幡、燈籠、花枝與寶物，與盤面主題呼應，繁而不亂，處處見巧思。

類似器物現藏於北京中國國家博物館，為其官窯御製品質之有力印證。另見香港蘇富比2016年4月5日「琵金頓珍藏中國藝術品」專場，拍品編號49。