Vase (meiping) with inscription 'Fine wine with delicate aroma'. Yuan-Ming dynasty, 1350-1400. Longquan kilns, south China. Stoneware with olive green (celadon) glaze. Height: 47 cm. FE.34-1972. E. V. Lee Gift. © V&A Images.

Jar of 'meiping' form, with high shoulders, small short neck and thick foot. The vase is decorated with four panels with ideograms in carved relief and floral motifs on the shoulders, a large band of floral scrolls on the central part, and tall petals rising from the foot on the bottom section. A light-green celadon glaze covers the body. 

This jar belongs to the so-called Longquan wares, characterised by greenish or celadon glazes, and named after an important production area in South China active from the Song (960-1279) to the early Qing dynasty (1644-1911). The Longquan vessels were often decorated with designs incised, carved, moulded or applied in relief on the surface, and then covered with the glaze. 

This example, with a short, small neck, was used to serve wine. A plug would have sealed the mouth. It is of particular interest for the four Chinese ideograms carved in relief under the glaze: 'mei jiu qing xiang' (fine wine, pure fragrance), which directly refer to the function of the jar. This inscription also appears on other pieces produced in the Longquan kilns, and possibly represents a trade mark.