A Chinese porcelain blue and white bottle vase. Chongzhen, 1628-1644. Courtesy Marchant

of compressed globular form with tall flaring neck and central bulb, painted on the body with a dignitary meeting a lady in a fenced garden, the gentleman with three attendants, one holding a canopy, the other a halbard and a third with an axe, all amongst rockwork, banana plants and “V”-shaped grass, the reverse with a cloud bank beneath cloud scrolls and the moon, the shoulder with a continuous band of flowering asters amongst foliage, the neck with stylised tulip divided by lotus flower-heads and foliage on the bulb. 14 5/8 inches, 37.1cm high. Condition: Rim restored. Price on request.

• Formerly in the collection of Professor D. R. Laurence.

• Purchased from S. Marchant & Son, 9th February 2007.

• A similar vase was included by S. Marchant & Son in their exhibition of Ming Blue and White Porcelain: The Drs. A. M. Sengers Collection, no. 72, p. 99; another was included by S. Marchant & Son in their exhibition of Ming Blue and White Including Dated Examples, no. 74, pp. 102/3, a further example from the Ludwig collection in the Cologne Museum is illustrated by Adele Schlombs in China und die Hoffnung auf Glûck, no. 44.

MARCHANT; www.marchantiques.com