A CHINESE BLUE AND WHITE 'QILIN' SAUCER DISH

SIX CHARACTER WANLI MARK AND OF THE PERIOD 1573-1620

The shallow body rising from a tapering foot to a slightly flared rim, painted with a central medallion enclosing a qilin supporting a lantern decorated with banners on its back, the mythical beast flanked by two attendants, one wielding a sword and the other holding a ruyi-head, the scene surrounded by a scrolling border of eight lotus flowers, with lanterns divided by beribboned precious objects to the reverse, 20.5cm.

Provenance: formerly an American private collection.

Cf. Sotheby's London, 6th June 1967, lot 144 for another Wanli blue and white dish with this design; see also Sotheby's London, 12th November 2003, lot 155 for a further example.