M5291

Large Swatow deep circular dish painted in turquoise, black and iron-red enamels with a large central scene of the ‘split pagoda’, with mountains in the distance, figures crossing a bridge and boats, all above three pagodas on rockwork, surrounded by four ruyi-head flaming medallions of fisherman, two with figures crossing a bridge, one with a fishing boat with one of the fisherman holding a net and the other with a boat in a river scene, between four four-character iron-red seals within a double square, the underside plain, the base and foot rim with sand grit.

39.5cm diameter.

Pinghe County, Zhangzhou prefecture, Fujian province.

Ming dynasty, circa 1600.

Chinese ceramic green and amber glazed ingot-form pillow, zhen, moulded on the four sides with a quatrefoil reserve depicting four fish on an aquatic leaf ground, all reserved on an interlaced floral diaper ground within incised borders, the plain flat ends incised with a stylised flowerhead and a green glazed cross on an amber ground, one end pierced for the firing, the other with three original spur marks.

7 inches, 17.7 cm long; 4 inches, 10.2 cm high.

Northern Song dynasty, 11th century.

Japanese wood box.

A large and heavy Chinese gold splash bronze tripod censer with upright openwork handles, slightly waisted neck and rounded flat rim, covered with bright gold splashes on its untouched ground.

6 ½ inches, 16.5 cm handle to handle.

The underside with an archaic style recessed relief mark of Xuande, Ming Dynasty, 16/17^th century.