Vase with immortal landscape

This important example of an imitation of the northern fahua type was made in porcelain by the jingdezhen kiln, which started the fahua production in the early fifteenth century. Fahua wares are marked by dominant purple, yellow, and turquoise glazes over cloisonné-style decorations. The complexity of the ornaments here represent the relief-edged patterns of five kinds of plants and a rock on a ground of miniature cloud-head panels. This is further set off by bead-thread tassels, lotus panels, and four of the eight ordinary symbols on the shoulder and below. Known among the rare pieces of jingdezhen fahua, the exquisite carving, appliqués, and openwork place it among the best of these works.