A rare pair of gourd-shaped porcelain vases with underglaze blue decoration of roman scenes

Description:

China, Chongzhen period (1628 - 1644)
H: 34,3-35 cm
The lower part of the vases is painted in bold cobalt blue and shows continuous figurative historical scenes between rocks, bamboo and plantain leaves. In the upper part, willows and rocks, the scenes are framed by leafy bänders in the waisted centre and at the neck.
From an old South German private collection, according to the owners in family possession since the 1990s
A similar motif can also be found on a blue and white Gu vase, Chongzhen, illustrated in Late Ming: Chinese Porcelains from the Butler Collections, Luxembourg, 2008, p. 119.- A vase with restoration to neck and mouth