A rare imperial porcelain box and cover

Description:

China, Wanli six-character mark and period
D. 28,5 cm
Cylindrical box with a flat-vaulted cover; the decoration in graduated underglaze tones shows a scene with scholars or wings in garden architecture on the lid; further figures in landscape between diaper borders and reserve motifs around the wall. The pictorial fields are structured by fine borders. The underside presents a clearly framed cartouche with the imperial mark.
From old German diplomatic property, by descent to the present owners
Cf. for the form, the cover of a censer with dragon decoration published 'The Flame of Fame: Imperial Wares of the Jiajing and Wanli Periods', University and Art Gallery - The University of Hong Kong, October 2009, no. 93. A washbasin with similar decoration from the Palace Museum collection is published in ‘Qing hua you li hong, The complete Collection of Treasures of the Palace Museum’, Hong Kong 2000, No. 189, pp. 204-205; The Metropolitan Museum of Art (New York), "Covered box with figures in garden", Ming dynasty, Wanli period (1573-1620), object no. 79.2.162a,b - The cover with a hairline and old rest. small chip to the rim, the base rest. at the rim