RARE BLUE AND WHITE 'LOTUS' BIRD FEEDER, XUANDE SIX CHARACTER MARK, CHONGZHEN PERIOD the sides painted in hues of blue cobalt with a band of lotus blossom and scrolling tendrils, Diameter: 6.5cm. Provenance: Anthony du Boulay Collection; Hatcher Cargo, sold by Christie's Amsterdam, March 14th 1984. One of ten similar bird feeders in the Hatcher cargo, one of which was purchased by the British Museum. for a published example see Sheaf, C., Kilburn. R, The Hatcher Cargoes: The Complete Record, Oxford 1988, p.70, pl. 107.