Chinese Ovoid Baluster Jar with Scholar's Figures and Kangxi Reign Mark

A gentleman with a staff stands lost in thought while his companion pauses mid-step with a branch.

This ovoid baluster jar with scholar's figures and Kangxi reign mark comes from Jingdezhen, China, from the Qing Dynasty (1644 – 1912 CE), in porcelain and cobalt paint. Blue and white wares from Jingdezhen are among the best-known Chinese ceramics, and reign marks of the Kangxi emperor were often added to later pieces as a mark of respect for that era. Robed figures stand among rocks, willows and ferns, painted in rich, layered cobalt. One holds a tall staff behind his back, another raises a leafy branch. Small iron specks dot the white ground. It is 10 inches high and 6 in diameter.

Scholars seldom look this relaxed.