Blue and white porcelain ‘Binahu’ vase, with Ming mark

Made of modelled porcelain, decorated with underglaze blue and white enamels. It has a narrow rectangular base and a ‘Bianhu’ or ‘Moonflask’ shape, characterised by a circular, flattened body that holds a cylindrical neck, flanked by two curved handles that join it to the body; it ends in a high mouth with an oval profile. It has a central decoration of a large flower with lotus petals, accompanied by decorative borders of scrolls and fine flowering branches, framed by double blue lines. In the mouth is a four-character mark ‘永乐年制’.

Size: 32.2 x 15.5 x 22.1 cm