391 - A CHINESE BLUE AND WHITE MOON FLASK, 19TH CENTURY

A CHINESE BLUE AND WHITE MOON FLASK, 19TH CENTURY A finely potted Chinese blue-and-white porcelain moon flask, of flattened circular form, raised on a short spreading foot and surmounted by a cylindrical neck. The body is finely painted in underglaze cobalt blue with a rich composition of precious objects and auspicious scholarly implements, including flower arrangements, censers, vessels, books, scrolls, and other treasured objects, arranged within a broad circular panel. The central decoration is framed by densely painted floral and scrolling borders, while the shoulder is further ornamented with foliate scrollwork. The neck is decorated with scrolling floral motifs and enclosed by narrow borders. The shoulders are applied with two finely modelled and pierced chilong-form handles, their sinuous bodies rendered in relief and integrated into the scrolling decoration Height: 26 cm.