A Chinese baluster Vase, Qianlong, circa 1740
This Chinese baluster vase is richly decorated in the Imari palette of underglaze blue, iron-red enamel and gilt. Large peonies issue from hollow rocks beside a forked willow tree, and the shoulders are finely decorated with an elaborate lappet border combining ruyi designs, flowers, and fish-roe motifs. The neck has three bamboo sprays in red, whilst the rim is decorated with a narrow underglaze blue trellis border. Two blue lines encircle the base.
Condition: No chips, cracks or restoration. The enamel and gilt decoration is in superb order, with very little wear. Typical minor potting and firing anomalies.
Dimensions: Height 31.5 cm; Diameter (at the widest point) 14 cm; Diameter (at the base) 10.5 cm; Diameter (at the rim) 5.5 cm
Chinese Export Ceramics, Rose Kerr and Luisa E. Mengoni (V&A Publishing, 2011).