明萬曆 五彩穿花龍紋四鋪首方觚 《大明萬曆年製》款

of rectangular section, the central bulb decorated with four protruding moulded mythical beast masks bowing down, each flanked by two brightly enamelled confronting dragons leaping from waves, the rounded shoulders similarly painted with sinuous dragons, all between a tall slender neck flaring to a square lipped rim and a wide waisted trunk, each side painted with alternating ascending and descending five-clawed dragons in contrasting red, yellow, green and underglaze blue amidst colourful flower scrolls, the foot moulded with a shaped apron decorated with lingzhi sprays, one side of the rim inscribed in underglaze blue with a six-character horizontal reign mark

The vase is very slightly tilted. There are typical fritting to the edges. The mouthrim has two small old restored flakes, one to a corner of approx. 3.5 cm and the other of approx. 1.2 cm. The lower body has a stained horizontal firing line of approx. 10.8 cm around a corner and another vertical one of approx. 17.3 cm with an associated flake of approx. 2.8 cm. There are also expected wear and flakes to the enamels; several places have been retouched at some point.
"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."

Finely painted in rich underglaze blue and bright enamels, this vase is notable for its magnificent size. A similar vase in the Hakutsuru Art Museum, Kobe, is illustrated in Hakutsuru bijutsukan zohin zuroku [Collection in the Hakutsuru Fine Art Museum], Kyoto, 1988, pl. 129; another in the Idemitsu Museum of Arts, Tokyo, is published in Chinese Ceramics in the Idemitsu Collection, Tokyo, 1987, pl. 742; and a third vase was sold at Christie’s London, 14th December 1983, lot 479.

Vases of this type with Wanli marks and of the period are also known painted in underglaze blue, such as one from the Grandidier collection in the Musée Guimet, Paris, illustrated in Oriental Ceramics. The World’s Great Collections, vol. 7, Tokyo, 1981, pl. 81; and a pair from the collection of John Love, sold at Christie’s London, 24th May 1927, lot 215.