Chinese Vase Depicting Two Yaks on Mountain

Cylindrical pot hosts a large ox with a tiny rider under a willow.

This painted porcelain vase depicting two yaks on a mountain is from China, and dates to the 20th century. The yak is a large, long-haired ox native to the high plateaus of Tibet and the Himalayas, valued for its milk, wool and strength as a pack animal. Painted on a white tube are a heavy black-and-gray buffalo, a small figure perched on its back, and a green willow overhead. Lines of black calligraphy run along the top, and flowering plants dot the base. It is 11 inches high and 4.75 in diameter.

A leisurely ride, painted with a very steady hand.