Ming Xuande Period Blue‑and‑White Cricket Jar With Interlocking‑Dragon Scroll

拍品描述

Dimensions：H.10.5cm，Diam.14cm Condition & Provenance：The jar is intact without cracks or chips. Minor age‑related wear on rim and cover edge. Rich cobalt tone with natural iron‑rust specks from smalt cobalt. Interior bears ancient usage traces. Foot rim carries natural soil patina. No modern restoration, no chemical cleaning. From private collection of R·K, Dallas, Texas, USA. Acquired in 2004, family inheritance under climate‑controlled storage, never appeared in public auction or museum exhibition. Description：This cricket jar is an imperial scholarly ware made at Jingdezhen official kiln during Xuande reign of Ming dynasty. It features stout cylindrical body, short foot and original matching cover with central vent hole. The exterior is painted with powerful coiling dragon winding through lingzhi scrolls in underglaze‑blue. Dynamic brushwork represents classic early Ming imperial painting aesthetic. Double blue lines frame upper rim and bottom section. Both cover inner side and base bear six‑character “Da Ming Xuande Nian Zhi” regular‑script reign mark in blue, exhibiting authentic Xuande official calligraphic style. Imported smalt cobalt delivers deep saturated blue with characteristic iron‑rust speckles. The glaze is thick and lustrous, porcelain body fine and solid. Cricket jars were exclusive imperial recreational utensils for cricket‑fighting amusement. Complete surviving examples with original cover are exceedingly rare. It embodies supreme Xuande porcelain craftsmanship and royal daily taste.

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