Jar, porcelain painted in red and green enamels; China, Ming dynasty, Zhengde mark and period (1506-21). Height: 17.5cm. Base length: 10.2cm. Base width: 8.2cm. Acc. No FE.20-1983. Victoria and Albert Museum, London.

A basically rectangular jar with chamfered corners, giving an octagonal cross section. There is a raised rim. There is a prominent ridge round the middle of the body where the top and bottom halves are luted together. The body is decorated predominately in red and green enamels. There are four main registers of decoration. Downwards from the rim these are: 1. leiwen scroll (rim). 2. Birds on branches (long sides), cash diaper (corners), bunches of grapes (short sides). 3. Lotus and chrysanthemum sprays (long sides), floral scroll (corners), scholar on carp (short sides). 4. ruyi head and pearl border. The eight panels of the body are separated by lines of yellow enamel, much abraded.