A BLUE AND WHITE ‘QILIN’ TILE, LATE MING DYNASTY
China, 16th - 17th century. Heavily potted and finely painted in well graduated shades of cobalt blue with a central roundel enclosing a prancing qilin amid bamboo, rockwork, and foliage beneath a fruiting peach tree and above a gourd, encircled by scroll designs to the corners.


Provenance:
French trade. Acquired from an old collection, according to family repute started over 100 years ago. Inscribed in ink to one side with an old collector’s number, ‘F14214-21.’

Condition:
Good condition, commensurate with age, with expected old wear, shallow surface scratches, and minor firing irregularities, including pitting, firing cracks, and glaze recesses. An old touch-up at twelve o’clock.The upper right corner with a shallow chip and associated old minor touchup.

Weight: 2,658 g
Dimensions: 19.6 cm x 19.6 cm


Literature comparison:

Compare two related blue and white tiles, 23 x 23 cm, dated to the Xuande period, in the British Museum, registration number 1993,1027.1-2.




明末青花麒麟瓦

中國，十六至十七世紀。青花滿繪，中央圓形開光，林間一隻騰躍的麒麟，四周樹木鮮花環繞。四角卷葉紋。


來源：
法國古玩貿易，一側用墨水寫有收藏家的編號‘F14214-21.’

品相：
狀況良好，有磨損、表面淺劃痕和輕微的燒製不規則，包括麻點、燒製裂紋和釉面凹陷， 十二點的部位有補漆。右上角有刻痕和相應的修補。

重量：2,658 克
尺寸：19.6 厘米 x 19.6 厘米


文獻比較：

比較兩件相近的宣德青花瓷瓦，23 x 23 厘米，收藏於大英博物館，館藏編號1993,1027.1-2。