A BLUE AND WHITE ‘DRAGON’ STEM CUP, SECOND HALF OF THE MING DYNASTY
China, 16th-17th century. Delicately potted, the cup stands on a long stem with a bow string just below the cup. The stem is decorated in cobalt blue with geometric designs, painted in thin brush strokes. The cup is painted with a stylized dragon and bi-disk, the interior with a central stylized flaming pearl.


Provenance:
From the estate of a notable Hong Kong family, who brought a substantial collection of ceramics, porcelains, and other Chinese works of art with them when they immigrated to Canada in the 1950s. Thence by descent within the family to the last owner.

Condition:
Very good condition, commensurate with age, with minor wear. Some firing irregularities, minimal pitting, and part of the recessed base with light orange inclusions from overfiring.

Weight: 57.8 g
Dimensions: Height 7.4 cm, Diameter 6.7 cm


Literature comparison:

Compare a related blue and white stem cup with a similar form, 8.3 cm high, dated to the first half of the 14th century, in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, accession number 1986.97.1. Compare a closely related stem cup with a similar style of decoration, 6.2 cm high, dated to the early 17th century with an apocryphal Chenghua mark, in the British Museum, registration number 1943,0215.14 published by Jessica Harrison-Hall in Catalogue of Late Yuan Ming Ceramics in the British Museum, London, 2001.


Auction result comparison:

Type: Related
Auction: Christie’s New York, 29 March 2023, lot 97
Price: USD 6,300 or approx.
EUR 5,700
converted at the time of writing
Description: A blue and white ‘Shou’ stem cup, Ming dynasty, 17th century
Expert remark: Note the similar bow string around the stem and the related decorations. Note the size (14.7 cm).


Auction result comparison:

Type: Related
Auction: Christie’s 16 October 2001, lot 127
Price: USD 25,850 or approx.
EUR 41.000
converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing
Description: An early Anhua-decorated blue and white stem cup, late 14th century
Expert remark: Note the related motif and cup form. Note the size (9.5 cm).


Auction result comparison:

Type: Related
Auction: Sotheby’s London, 9 November 2016, lot 331
Estimate: GBP 5,000 or approx.
EUR 8,500
converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing
Description: A blue and white stem cup, Ming dynasty, 15th/16th century
Expert remark: Note the related painting style and cup form.




明代下半葉青花龍紋高足杯

中國，十六至十七世紀。杯口微撇，下承中空竹節狀手柄。器型高雅。杯心繪雲紋火珠，杯壁繪螭龍，杯足以蕉葉紋為飾。青花發色純正，紋飾靈動。


來源：
香港一個著名家族的遺產，該家族在二十世紀五十年代移居加拿大時，隨身攜帶了大量陶器、瓷器和其他中國藝術品。從那時起，藏品在同一家族一直傳承到如今的最後一位主人。

品相：
狀況極好，有輕微磨損，小凹坑，凹陷底座的一部分因過度燒製而帶有淺橙色夾雜物。

重量：57.8 克
尺寸：高7.4 厘米，直徑 6.7 厘米


文獻比較：

比較一件相近的十四世紀上半葉青花杯，高8.3 厘米，收藏於大都會藝術博物館，館藏編號1986.97.1。比較一件非常相近的十七世紀早期成化款青花杯，高6.2 厘米，收藏於大英博物館，館藏編號1943,0215.14，出版於Jessica Harrison-Hall，《Catalogue of Late Yuan Ming Ceramics》， 收藏於大英博物館，倫敦，2001年。


拍賣結果比較：

形制：相近
拍賣：紐約佳士得，2023年3月29日，lot 97
價格：USD 6,300（相當於今日
EUR 5,700
）
描述：中國明十七世紀青花壽字紋高足盃
專家評論：請注意相似的的弓弦和相近的裝飾。請注意尺寸(14.7 厘米)。


拍賣結果比較：

形制：相近
拍賣：佳士得，2001年10月16日，lot 127
價格：USD 25,850（相當於今日
EUR 41.000
）
描述：十四世紀末期青花杯
專家評論：請注意相近主題和杯的外形。請注意尺寸(9.5 厘米)。


拍賣結果比較：

形制：相近
拍賣：倫敦蘇富比，9 11月 2016年，lot 331
估價：GBP 5,000
EUR 8,500
（相當於今日）
描述：明十五/十六世紀青花獅戲繡球紋高足盃
專家評論：請注意相近的彩繪風格和杯的外形。