Provenance
Museum of Arts, London, 1971, no.126
Christie's London, 'Fine Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art', 28 November 1966, lot 145.
The F. Gordon Morrill Collection, USA.
Doyle, New York, 16 September 2003, lot 100. (sold USD 20.000,00) (link)
S. Marchant and Son, London, acquired from the above.
The Harriet Szechenyi Collection, Switzerland, acquired from the above.
Bonhams London, 10 November 2011, lot 133. (sold GBP 25.000,00) (link)
Marchant, London, acquired from the above on behalf of Mr. and Mrs. Baert-Devos and accompanied by a copy of their original invoice. (see added scan)
The Mr. and Mrs. Baert-Devos Collection, Belgium.
Exhibited & illustrated:
Exhibited in The Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, 1971, no. 126
S. Marchant and Son, London, included in their November 2004 exhibition of 'Ming Blue and White: Jiajing–Chongzhen including dated examples', and illustrated in the accompanying catalogue, pp. 44-45, no. 29. Also illustrated in their 2025 publication 'One Hundred Years', volume 2, p. 71, no. 1088.
Description
The shallow, wide bowl with gently incurved rim, the exterior finely painted in underglaze cobalt blue with two four-clawed winged dragons striding amidst breaking waves and flaming pearls. Above runs a continuous inscription beneath the rim. The interior is only partially glazed at the lip, the remainder revealing the characteristic biscuit body burnt to a pale orange tone.
The inscription reads: “皇明万曆三拾貳年孟夏月吉日置用，永遠長命富貴，金玉滿堂，大吉利，萬事俱順.”
It records that the bowl was made for use on an auspicious day in the first month of summer, in the thirty-second year of the Wanli reign, corresponding to 1604. The inscription conveys wishes for long life, wealth and honour, a household filled with riches, great good fortune, and success in all matters.
敞口浅腹宽碗，口沿微微内敛。外壁以釉下青花绘两条四爪應龙，腾跃于翻卷波涛之间，并伴以火焰宝珠。口沿下方环书一周铭文。内壁仅口沿处局部施釉，其余部分露胎並伴有典型火石紅。
铭文为：“皇明万曆三拾貳年孟夏月吉日置用，永遠長命富貴，金玉滿堂，大吉利，萬事俱順。”
Reference:
S. Riddell, 'Dated Chinese Antiquities 600-1650', 1979, p. 90, no. 65, for a very similar example dated 1520 in the City Museum and Art Gallery, Hong Kong.
Sir Harry Garner, 'Oriental Blue and White', 1954, no. 59a, for a similar example dated 1621.
Lot 2
Wanli mark and of the period, dated 1605
Dia.: 16,3 cm - H.: 7,7 cm
Estimation
€ 15.000,00 – € 25.000,00
Provenance
Museum of Arts, London, 1971, no.126
Christie's London, 'Fine Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art', 28 November 1966, lot 145.
The F. Gordon Morrill Collection, USA.
Doyle, New York, 16 September 2003, lot 100. (sold USD 20.000,00) (link)
S. Marchant and Son, London, acquired from the above.
The Harriet Szechenyi Collection, Switzerland, acquired from the above.
Bonhams London, 10 November 2011, lot 133. (sold GBP 25.000,00) (link)
Marchant, London, acquired from the above on behalf of Mr. and Mrs. Baert-Devos and accompanied by a copy of their original invoice. (see added scan)
The Mr. and Mrs. Baert-Devos Collection, Belgium.
Exhibited & illustrated:
Exhibited in The Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, 1971, no. 126
S. Marchant and Son, London, included in their November 2004 exhibition of 'Ming Blue and White: Jiajing–Chongzhen including dated examples', and illustrated in the accompanying catalogue, pp. 44-45, no. 29. Also illustrated in their 2025 publication 'One Hundred Years', volume 2, p. 71, no. 1088.