This vase is a Chinese blue and white porcelain piece featuring a tall, slightly flaring neck and a broad, rounded body. The form is accentuated by a pair of applied dragon-shaped handles extending along the neck, a characteristic seen in certain Qing dynasty porcelain designs. The body is decorated with cobalt blue underglaze depicting a central motif of a large, stylized vase or censer flanked by two phoenixes, with floral elements rising above.
The painting is executed in deep cobalt tones, with fine brushwork defining the feathers of the phoenixes and the surrounding floral motifs. The composition is symmetrically arranged, with the large central element serving as the focal point. The neck of the vase continues the floral decoration, while the dragon handles are sculpted in relief with curling forms, positioned where handles would typically be placed.
This type of porcelain was produced in Jingdezhen, the renowned center of Chinese porcelain manufacture. The use of applied dragon handles and cobalt blue decoration aligns with techniques employed during the late Ming and Qing dynasties. The combination of auspicious motifs, including phoenixes and floral elements, reflects traditional Chinese decorative symbolism often associated with prosperity and longevity.
