A white porcelain vase glazed in blue underglaze, China, Transitional period, 17th centuryBaluster and octagonal form with cut sides, the body decorated with an official and three servants holding a fan, carrying a luggage surrounded by a silk square and presenting a vase containing three halberds of the qinglong ji type The scene is set in a landscape of rocks, pine trees, wutong, bamboo, banana trees and clouds. The shoulder of the vase is decorated with cartouches of lotus flowers in foliage and the neck is outlined with a geometric frieze. The lower part of the vase decorated with a frieze of stylized palms and the unglazed bottom. Height : 30 cmA slight crack of firing and small jumps of enamel . This scene is an illustration of the rebus "may you have three unexpected promotions" - ping sheng san ji 平升三级 Decoration: hua ping (vase) and san ji (three halberds ). Rebus: ping from hua ping forms a pun meaning "unexpected promotion". San ji, three halberds, forms a pun meaning "three ranks"