Pair of famille verte porcelain vases

Kangxi period, 1662 – 1722
Height: 48.5 cm | 19 1/8 in & 49 cm | 19 5/16 in

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The vases have cylindrical necks that flare at the mouth, and rise from a horizontal square shoulder with rounded corners – the square body tapering down to a square flat base. The four sides of each vase depict scenes of scholars and attendants – in various pursuits – within pavilions, in a landscape, and at a court presentation. Although the decoration of the pair looks very similar, there are subtle differences between the two vases – within each comparable scene.

The shoulders are painted with a different flower spray to each corner, and the base of the neck is encircled by a band of stylized lingzhi below two registers – each depicting Buddhist symbols; a further border of stylized lingzhi heads decorates the mouth. The enamels are clear and bright – with the full famille verte palette being applied – including yellow, aubergine, red, and various shades of green. The overglaze blue is in excellent condition and applied liberally, and certain highlights are picked out in gold.

Similar example: Catalogue of the Leonard Gow Collection of Chinese Porcelain by R. L. Hobson – plate xxiii, figure 123.