Three Dragon Brushrest, Wanli mark and period (1573-1619), 4 1/8 x 6 5/8 x 2 9/16in. (10.5 x 16.8 x 6.5cm), Wucai ware Porcelain with underglaze blue and polychrome overglaze enamel décor, China, 16th -17th century, Under Ming royal patronage, potters at Ching-te-chen introduced a series of fine porcelains decorated with new and improved overglaze polychrome enamels. The term wu-ts'ai means 'five colors' but it was used generically to mean 'polychrome' regardless of how many colors actually appeared on a vessel. The Wu-ts'ai overglaze colors included red, blue, green, yellow, and purple, and during Ming, they were usually used in conjunction with underglaze cobalt blue designs. The Wu-ts'ai palette gained favor during the Chia-ching (1522-66) and Wan-li (1573-1620) periods and was produced at imperial as well as private kilns.