A rare massive Chinese blue and white archaistic temple vase Wanli six character mark and of the...

A rare massive Chinese blue and white archaistic temple vase Wanli six character mark and of the period 1573-1619, the square-section body based on a bronze fang gu, each side painted with five ascending and descending five-clawed dragons on a dense floral ground with borders of key-fret, waves and rocks, the central knop with lion mask handles, the base moulded as an imitation bronze stand, 75cm.

Provenance: Field Marshal Earl Kitchener of Khartoum (1850-1916), and thence by descent.

Cf. The World's Great Collections, Oriental Ceramics, Vol. 7, Musée Guimet, Paris, No.81 for a slightly smaller example from the Grandidier Collection. Also Christie's London, 19th June 2001, lot 49 for a similar wucai example which is also smaller.

明萬曆 青花趕珠龍紋獸耳方觚

《大明萬曆年制》楷書款

來源：霍雷肖•赫爾伯特•基欽納(1850-1916)收藏。