East Asia, China, Qing dynasty, ca. 19th century CE. A gorgeous stoneware vase exhibiting a reverse pear-shaped body with a gracefully rounded shoulder, a narrow, conical neck, and a flared, annular rim, all sitting upon a circular, concave base. Boasting a lustrous burnish, this elegant vessel is adorned with the depiction of 2 white dragons in low relief, intricately incised with detail and accented in a hue of scarlet. The ferocious beasts present serpentine bodies that meanders along the sides of the ancient vessel, causing one's eye to travel up and down the vase's voluptuous form. Petite spikes line the beasts' lengthy spines as their heads face upward, as though about to let out blazing breaths. The fantastical creatures stretch their muscular legs outwards, displaying elongated talons. The remainder of the glaze is enveloped in a lustrous powder blue glaze and incised with 4 decorative registers, 2 embellished with a vegetal motif, 1 bearing a design of flowers and ducks, and the last showing 2 dragons chasing a lion. The fantastical creature stretches its muscular legs outwards, displaying elongated talons. A pair of Chinese characters can be found on the base, likely praising the workmanship of the piece. Though made in the 19th century, this elegant vessel is decorated in the style of the Yuan dynasty (1271 to 1368 CE) as evident by its light blue underglaze and the Yuan Dynasty mark on its base. Size: 10.5" in diameter x 16.25" H (26.7 cm x 41.3 cm)

Inspired by the female form, this vase is known as a "meiping," or "prunus vase," which is a stoneware vessel first used to store wine. During the Song dynasty, vessels of this form became popular to use for displaying branches of plum blossoms, hence the name "prunus vase."

In China, dragons have traditionally symbolized auspicious powers involving control over rainfall, water, floods, and typhoons. Dragons are mythological symbols of good luck, strength, and power as well as the seasonal cycles and the supernatural. Dragons were displayed as a sign of physical and spiritual protection!

Provenance: private Morrison, Colorado, USA collection, acquired 2015; ex-New York, USA estate of retired antiquities dealer, 1980s to 2000

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#163815

Some losses to glaze on exterior. Possible restoration to rim. Otherwise, excellent with lovely remaining pigments.