明萬曆 五彩花鳥紋圓蓋盒 《大明萬曆年製》款

of rounded form, thickly potted, the domed cover slightly raised and painted with a central medallion painted in underglaze blue, yellow, red, green and black enamel with a pair of long-tailed birds perched on the branches of a tall willow tree, with two butterflies hovering in flight above lilies and asters growing among rocks, all within double line borders, the sides of the box and cover decorated sprays of peach, pomegranate, lychee, grape, vine and flowers, with lozenge bands at the rim, the base inscribed with the six-character reign mark within a double ring in underglaze blue (2)

Restoration to the both the box and the cover concealing to the cover: a 240mm hairline star crack and two rim chips (approximately 20mm and 30mm). To the box: a 30mm chip to the foot, a firing crack to the foot with a possibly associated star crack cutting across base and up the other side, stopping approximately 50mm short of the rim. All with associated over-spraying. Other possible rim chips and cracks consolidated. Characteristic surface wear to the enamels.
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.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING CONDITION OF A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE PRINTED IN THE CATALOGUE.

The charming wucai design on the present lot is adapted from a Chenghua period doucai pattern, as can be seen on an excavated and unfinished doucai fragmentary box and cover, illustrated in Imperial Porcelain: Recent Discoveries of Jingdezhen Ware, Museum of Oriental Ceramics, Osaka, 1995, cat. no. 114. 

A small number of Wanli period wucai boxes and covers of this design appear to be known. Two examples are illustrated in C.M. Kauffmann, ‘Chinese Pottery and Porcelain in the Manchester City Art Galleries’, Oriental Art, New Series, vol. V, no. 3, Autumn 1959, pp. 120-22, pl. 3; two others were sold in our London rooms, 17th December 1980, lot 632, from the R. Wistrand collection, and 7th December 1993, lot 236; a further example, formerly in the Wingfield Digby and Meiyintang collections was sold in our Hong Kong rooms, 9th October 2012, lot 48.