MAGNIFICENT, Chinese Ming Dynasty Wanli porcelain Jar. Sturdy potted porcelain jar with robust shoulder region curving into a feminine waist that extends all the way to the bottom forming the raised circular base. All covered in clean white underglaze base ground color. The Exterior body delicately in a cobalt blue color hand painting decorated with a landscape of the hundred deer beside the sturdy tree , rocky mountain and surrounded with ruyi clouds. Auspicious pattern decorated on the shoulder and the upper neck, banded with double fine blue ring lines. A deer (lu) resembles longevity as it is the friend of Shoulao-the god of longevity according to Daoist belief. This imposing vase carries a second layer of meaning thanks to wordplay: the term for “one hundred deer,†bai lu , is a homonym for bailu, the economic, cultural, and social benefits that could accrue during the course of an official career. The theme can thus be read as a wish to attain a position in government. The graceful and beautiful deer is not included in the Chinese zodiac but does feature in paintings. It symbolizes longevity and riches as deer were believed to live to a great age. Lu means ‘good fortune’ and ‘government salary’, and lu is also another word for ‘precious jade’. The god of longevity is often shown accompanied by deer; it was reputed to be able to locate the herbs of immortality. The character for deer is used within the character li ‘beautiful; elegant’ it shows a deer decorated with two pendants, but this is only really evident in the old form of the character. Stag's horn when finely ground up is used in traditional medicine because of the association with long life. A characteristic heaped and piled effect, the underglaze cobalt blue concentrates in certain areas, bubbling through the surface of the glaze and turning a deep blue-black. This inadvertently gave texture, energy and shading to the design. The clay is very fine, with a brilliant glaze finish that was applied by a meticulous, the shape is uniformly proportioned.The under-base bears a reign mark, a vertical six underglaze blue script characters reign mark, enclosed within a double fine rings, Made in The Years of WanLi Reign Period of Great Ming Dynasty.Measurements: 13-7/8" H x 12-1/2" Diam. PROVENANCE: From the private collections of Madame Kimball, of Boston, Massachusetts, by inheritance. Records bought from AMEUBLEMENTS ANCIENS, Faiences & Porcelaines, Bibelots & Tapisseries Anciennes, 3 Rue Des Saints-Peres, Paris (6). Dealers in Works of Art & Antiques, Curios, Armor, Plate, China, Jewels, etc. The Kimball's family collections offered at this Auctions can be found on Lot-71, 87, Lot-87 Through Lot-132, Lot-138 Through Lot-141, and Lot-146 Through Lot-153