Large Chinese Porcelain Taoist Practices Yuhuchunping

Chinese porcelain Taoist practices yuhuchunping, a large, fencai, pear shape vase with a white glazed exterior, interior and an unglazed, inset base. The top of the neck below the the rim is decorated with a wide band of fine, red chevrons, bracketed above and below by double, trim circles. The neck is decorated with two, garden scenes of finely drawn, Chinese flycatchers perched amid flowering plum trees, peonies, insects, longevity rocks, berries, bamboo and bushes. The garden scenes are flanked by red, beast head handles. The flange of the neck has a band of polychrome Ru Yi lappets above a wider band of four, quatrefoil, floral cartouches quartered within a dense lattice of red and green flowers, all bracketed by double trim circles. The main body of the vase is decorated with a finely drawn, complex, fencai scene of ten followers of the Tao, in silken robes, practicing neidan and waidan with various implements, and interacting with dragons, lions, tigers, quilins, cranes and other beasts amid red, Taoist flames. The bottom of the vase is banded with large, red green and yellow, Ru Yi Lappets with a smaller band of red and green swags below, separated by double trim circles. The high, extended foot is decorated with five, finely drawn qilins and lions chasing the pearl of wisdom amid a continuous landscape (see image #8) The finely carved, traditional, Chinese, hongmu circular stand is included. Circa late 19th century, no later than Republic of China era.

vase: 23.25″ high x 13.1″ diameter

stand: 6.75″ high x 12.375″ diameter