Ming Xuande Period Blue and White 'Mythical Beast' Cricket Jar

拍品描述

Dimensions: Height: 14 cm (5.51 in); Diameter: 10 cm (3.94 in); 15th Century (Xuande Period, Ming Dynasty).Condition & Provenance: Overall in very good condition. The cover matches the jar well. The glaze remains glossy with vibrant cobalt decoration. Minor wear is visible along the rim and foot from age and handling, together with naturally occurring kiln freckles and firing characteristics. No obvious evidence of later restoration is observed. Provenance: Private Collection, New York, USA.Description: This finely painted blue-and-white porcelain cricket jar dates to the Xuande period of the Ming Dynasty. The cylindrical body is fitted with a domed cover featuring a central ventilation hole, reflecting its original function as an elegant container for keeping crickets. The exterior is decorated in rich cobalt blue with mythical beasts emerging among rolling waves and swirling clouds, creating a dynamic continuous landscape that symbolizes auspiciousness and vitality. The cobalt displays the deep, vibrant tone and natural "heaping and piling" effects admired in Xuande wares. The base bears a six-character underglaze-blue Xuande reign mark. Combining refined craftsmanship with practical function, this type of cricket jar represents one of the most desirable scholar's objects of the Ming period and is highly regarded by collectors for both its artistic quality and historical significance.

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