A blue and white vase, Republic period with Qianlong mark.

Of archaistic form, the ovoid body resting on a high splayed foot and rising to a waisted neck, the shoulder applied with a pair of molded elephant-mask handles each suspending a mock ring, the shoulder and body encircled by a register of floral scroll, the lower body wrapped in a band of cloud formations below a band of lappets at the foot, the neck surrounded by stiff upright leaves beneath a band of ruyi at the rim, all finely painted in brilliant tones of underglaze blue with simulated 'heaping and piling', the base with a seal mark in underglaze blue. Height 26 cm. Height with wooden stand 29.5 cm.