Fine Blue-and-White Covered Box, Ming Dynasty, 16th C.

We are offering a fine Chinese blue-and-white covered box from Ming Dynasty produced for holding incense powder during tea ceremony. The small covered box has a shallow dome-shaped cover and a similarly shaped bottom sitting on a small foot rim. The exterior of the box is decorated with a central chrysanthemum flower with a double-ring which is encircled with three chrysanthemums connected by leafy vines. The band above the foot ring is surrounded with lotus vine of early Ming style. The pigment is of early Ming imported cobalt blue quality with dark watery heaping-and-pile effects. The base is inscribed with a six-character Ming Chenghua (1465-1487 A.D.) mark. Many small early Ming Dynasty carved lacquer box of similar size and shape have survived in Japan as incense powder boxes or Kogo in Japan for tea ceremonies. Porcelain Kogo made in Ming Imperial kiln with a reign mark is extremely rare. Base on its provenance from an old tea article collection, its superb painting with imported cobalt blue pigment, and the shallow dome shape, we date this beautiful box to be as marked from Chenghua period or from later Ming period of Jiajing/Wanli period. We guarantee that it is from 16th Century or earlier and was made in Ming Dynasty Imperial kiln. The box is in excellent condition with traces of remaining incense powders and old cottons fillings.

size: diameter: 5.0cm; height: 2.6cm

Upon close inspection, we have found a minute flea bite glaze chip to the rim of the lower box as photographed.