DALLAS, TX.- With less than a week before the close of bidding for Heritage Auctions’ Inaugural Fine Asian Art Signature Auction on April 2, collector interest is growing for the catalog cover subject.

The Large and Rare Chinese Blue and White Porcelain Windswept Jar, (est. $30,000-50,000) from the Guan Ming Dynasty, 15th century is garnering interest as a quintessential Chinese work of art - the exact kind of thing Asian specialists spend the year trying to find.

“The jar has been in the family of a seafaring Boston marine insurance magnate since nearly the turn of the century and is presented here to the global Chinese arts market for the first time since its acquisition. It is such a clean and excellent work of art from China’s most famous Dynasty and embodies our area of specialty so well, there is no auctioneer, dealer, collector or museum worldwide that would not put up a fight to at least possess it for a short while,” explained Richard Cervantes, Heritage Auctions Asian Arts Consignment Director.

The “Ming vase” is a concept nearly as ubiquitous as “Holy Grail” and many people who are not collectors and who have no idea what “Ming” means still know and use the term. It epitomizes quality, rarity, refinement and antiquity. It is the antique, if there is one. While this piece is technically a jar, not a vase, it still represents the Ming Dynasty as few other pieces can. It is an extraordinarily large ceramic vessel that not only demonstrates the achievements of 15th century Chinese potters, but is masterfully decorated in 360 degrees with Daoist immortals and deities in vivid underglaze cobalt blue

The jar having reticulated carved rosewood lid, neck adorned with banded scrollwork in blue underglaze, shoulder with repeating crosshatching and foliate cartouches, body decorated with Xiwangmu, "Queen Mother of West" holding a basket of peaches and flanked by two female attendants, eight figures likely depicting the Eight Immortals, boy with deer, and scholars engaged in a game of go, raised on carved rosewood base. The jar, stand and lid measure 21 inches high.