A very rare Chinese blue and white conch-shaped water dropper, Ming dynasty, Wanli period (1573–1619 1573 - 1619

Unknown artist

PorcelainChinese porcelain
4.80 ⨯ 12 cm
ConditionGood
Price on request

Menken Works of Art

• About the artwork
  A very rare Chinese blue and white conch-shaped water dropper.
  Ming dynasty, Wanli period (1573–1619).
  
  The water dropper is cleverly shaped in the form of a conch, with two holes at the front and top. The surface is decorated with underglaze blue and white floral motifs, the bottom is left unglazed.
  
  Length 12 cm, height 4.8 cm.
  
  Provenance:
  Acquired from Auktionshaus Dr. Fritz Nagel, Stuttgart, 15 November 1997, lot 1613 (by repute)
  Property from a distinguished private collection, New York
  
  Ref:
  Water droppers in the shape of a conch from the Wanli period are very rare, and we have not been able to identify another example.
  A blue and white water dropper from the same period in the form of an eggplant is in the Sir Percival David Collection, British Museum, London (inv. no. PDF,B.694).
  For a peach-shaped water dropper, see Jingdezhen to the World, The Lurie Collection of Chinese Export Porcelain from the Late Ming Dynasty (Teresa Canepa, 2019), pp. 148–149, no. 46.
  
  Condition:
  Typical mushikui fritting, with some glaze pits and tension lines originating from the kiln.
  
  Worldwide registered and insured shipping.
  
  Inv. No: MW408
• About the artist

  It might happen that an artist or maker is unknown.

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  •“Attributed to ….” In their opinion probably a work by the artist, at least in part

  •“Studio of ….” or “Workshop of” In their opinion a work executed in the studio or workshop of the artist, possibly under his supervision

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  •“Style of ….” or “Follower of ….” In their opinion a work executed in the artist’s style but not necessarily by a pupil; may be contemporary or nearly contemporary

  •“Manner of ….” In their opinion a work in the style of the artist but of a later date

  •“After ….” In their opinion a copy (of any date) of a work of the artist

  •“Signed…”, “Dated….” or “Inscribed” In their opinion the work has been signed/dated/inscribed by the artist. The addition of a question mark indicates an element of doubt

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