Vase “Cobalt Peony” China, late 19th - early 20th centuries. Mark 康熙年製 (reign of Emperor Kangxi, 1654–1722) Porcelain, glaze; underglaze painting with cobalt.

The vase presented for examination is an example of Chinese artistic porcelain from the late 19th - 20th centuries, illustrating one of the most famous types of Chinese kiln products: items with underglaze cobalt painting. 2 The vase is made of porcelain, the ovoid body on a high concave leg goes into the bell of the neck with a wide bend of the rim. The product is covered with a transparent glaze, underneath which is painted in dark blue, rich in cobalt. On the front side of the body of the vase (which is determined by the most dense and lush decoration) there are peonies on strong stems with leaves, behind them there is a small mound with plants on which a bird is sitting. On the reverse side, in the free space of a white porcelain background, two fluttering butterflies are depicted. The throat is separated from the body by a belt of geometric ornament; on its front side there is a continuation of the composition with another bird sitting on the branches of a bush, and one butterfly on the other side.