Chinese Vase with Bird & Flower Motif with Makers Mark Produced in Honor of Mao Zedong

A pair of birds rest on a flowering branch, in cobalt as deep as any ink.

This vase with bird and flower motif, with makers mark, was produced in honor of Mao Zedong. It is from China, dated 1975, in porcelain and indigo. Blue and white decoration is one of the best known traditions of Chinese porcelain, using cobalt-based pigment painted under a clear glaze. The tall shouldered body is covered with peonies, blossoming branches and long-tailed birds beside a rock. A lattice band edges the flared neck, and a smaller border runs around the foot. The painted blues range from pale wash to dark outline. It is 10 inches wide, 10 deep and 22 high.

A tall garden with a very lofty address.