Pair of Late Qing Blue & White Porcelain Garlic-Neck Vases, Lion Mask Handles

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Pair of Late Qing Blue and White Porcelain Garlic-Neck Vases with Lion Mask Handles and Hardwood Covers

A striking and … Read more Pair of Late Qing Blue and White Porcelain Garlic-Neck Vases with Lion Mask Handles and Hardwood Covers

A striking and uncommon pair of Late Qing Dynasty blue and white porcelain garlic-neck vases, dating from the late 19th to early 20th century, presented with conforming carved hardwood covers. Each vase measures 13 inches high, with a generous 8-inch diameter body raised on a 4.75-inch foot and a 3-inch opening.

The elegant form derives from the ancient Chinese suan tou ping, or garlic-head vase, a shape admired since the Han Dynasty and revived throughout the Ming and Qing periods. Considered a comparatively rare form when contrasted with the more commonly encountered ginger jars, baluster vases, and rouleau forms, the garlic-neck silhouette was often reserved for more refined decorative wares and scholarly interiors. The compressed globular body and elongated neck create a balanced architectural profile, while molded lion-mask ring handles add a distinctly imperial character. In Chinese tradition, lion masks symbolize guardianship, strength, prosperity, and protection from misfortune.

The decoration is executed in deep cobalt blue beneath a luminous glaze and is dominated by a dense field of stylized auspicious clouds. Known as ruyi clouds, these scrolling forms symbolize heavenly blessings, good fortune, and the fulfillment of wishes. Encircling the upper neck is a lotus-petal border, a revered Buddhist motif representing purity, harmony, and spiritual enlightenment. The principal reserves feature stylized garlic or sacred botanical motifs associated with abundance, longevity, and renewal.

Particularly appealing is the uninterrupted coverage of decoration across the entire surface, creating a dynamic celestial composition. The combination of the relatively rare garlic-neck form, molded lion-mask handles, and extensive symbolic ornament is encountered far less frequently than standard export-market shapes, making this pair especially desirable to collectors of Chinese decorative arts.

An elegant and highly decorative pair, equally suited to traditional, chinoiserie, or contemporary interiors. See less