Fine underglaze blue bowl decorated with an openwork 'Cash' pattern

Description:

China, Wanli period
D. 10,9 cm
The exterior features five medallions with a river landscape, camellia, rock formation, peony and a building with a large opening next to a flagpole and rock formations, all between a fine cash reticulated pattern.
European private collection, collected before 2007
The present bowl belongs to a group of wares with delicate openwork designs which would have been cut by hand when the clay was leather hard before firing. This required great skill and precision. - In very good condition except for a few very chips or frits at the mouth rim outside