A FINELY PAINTED BLUE AND WHITE CIRCULAR BOX AND COVER MING DYNASTY, CHONGZHEN PERIOD |

the domed cover finely painted to the center with a quadrilobed medallion composed of four ruyi-shaped panels and lotus flowers linked by foliate scrolls within a ruyi lappet collar enclosing further lotus scrolls, the box with similar decoration, the base with an apocryphal six-character Jiajing mark (2)

The box and cover each in overall good condition with only minor expected wear (particularly to the inner rims) and a small chip to the interior of the footring.
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.

This skillfully painted box embodies the signature qualities of Ming dynasty blue and white porcelains through its sophisticated ornamentation and dynamic use of materials. The intricate, symmetrical design perfectly complements the shape of the surface, requiring careful planning and precise execution. Yet, even within these constraints, the painter executed each line with vivacity and vigor that enliven the overall composition. The artisan also made full use of the tonal range of the cobalt to vivify individual lines and prevent monotony in the repeating pattern. The 'heaping and piling' technique further added an element of chance in the firing process. As a result, the box coherently synthesizes order and expressiveness, conformity and gesture, deliberateness and surprise. Compared to contemporaneous seal paste boxes discovered in the 'Hatcher Cargo', for instance the groups sold at Christie's Amsterdam, 12th-13th June 1984, lots 601 and 649, the present example demonstrates the high caliber of craftsmanship that continued through the end of the Ming dynasty.