18th Century

The domed form with three lightly incised dragon roundels, all coated with peachbloom glaze, the everted rim with white glazed interior, the white glazed, slightly recessed base with six-character Kangxi mark in underglaze blue. Classic domed taibai zun form which is referred to as taibai zun after the Tang Dynasty poet and notorious drinker Li Taibai (701-762).

D. 5 1/8 in.

Note: While a vessel of this shape may have used to anchor a flower or to serve libations, some think it was a water pot into which painters would dip their brush before refining the bristles on its short concave neck. (Sotheby's notes that Taibai is often portrayed leaning against a wine jar of this form so it is probable that it was a multipurpose vessel.)