Meiping vase, ‘Chrysanthemums and Lotus Flowers’, Ming Dynasty

A vase crafted from fine porcelain, decorated in cobalt blue underglaze on a vitreous white background of great purity. It features a circular foot that widens in a sinuous curve towards the shoulders, topped by a narrow neck that ends in a rim with a thickened edge. The piece features a design organised into horizontal bands; the central body is dominated by large chrysanthemum and lotus flowers in full bloom, linked by sinuous stems and dense foliage.

On the shoulder, there is a band of lobed cartouches with floral motifs, whilst the base is decorated with a border of scrolls and stylised plant motifs. The unglazed base reveals the bare ceramic and bears a mark with the character ‘明’. Ming Dynasty (1368–1644) or later.

Height: 28 cm; Mouth diameter: 4.7 cm; Base diameter: 11.3 cm

Provenance:

· French private collection.