A porcelain vase of pear shape, faceted into eight sides from the flared mouth to the foot. The neck is painted with tall plantain leaves above a narrow lattice band, and the shoulder with a ring of lappets enclosing clouds. Between two bands of scrolls, each facet of the body holds a flowering spray, among them a peony and a chrysanthemum, with leafy stems filling the narrower panels. A second ring of lappets enclosing clouds circles the lower body, and a band of leaves runs round the foot. Inside the mouth is a border of scrolls. The blue is dark and slightly blurred, with small pale specks in the heavier strokes, under a glaze with a faint green tint.
The octagonal foot and base are unglazed, the base showing concentric throwing rings and a warm orange tone from the firing. The vase has a break running all the way round the body, though it remains in one piece. We attribute it to the early Ming dynasty.
We can send further photographs on request.
Learn more: The Ming Dynasty
