Covered jar decorated with goldfish and aquatic plants, Ming dynasty, Jiajing mark and period, 1522 - 1566. Excavated in the eastern suburbs of Beijing in 1955. Porcelain with five-color enamels, wucai, height 46 cm. National Museum of Chinese History, Beijing

Underglaze blue and overglaze enamel colors decorate this massive wine jar with a continuous scene of large golden carp swimming among various water weeds and lotus flowers. On the base a six-character imperial reign mark reads: "Made in the Jiajing period of the great Ming."