A rare yellow-glazed blue and white 'boys at play' stembowl, Ming dynasty, 15th century | 明十五世紀 黃釉青花嬰戲圖高足盌

A rare yellow-glazed blue and white 'boys at play' stembowl

Ming dynasty, 15th century

明十五世紀 黃釉青花嬰戲圖高足盌

elegantly potted, the tall cylindrical stem rising from a slightly spreading foot to a deep rounded bowl flaring at the rim, painted to the exterior in cobalt tones with a lively scene of boys at play within a fenced garden, some playing ball games, others burning incense or walking birds, all above a lappet band, the stem with stylized clouds floating above crested waves, the interior with a central medallion of three boys under a pine tree within a triple-line border, the interior rim encircled by a floral diaper band, the rim bound in metal

Diameter 5 ¾ in., 14.5 cm