A 19th Century Qing Dynasty Yellow Ground Bottle Vase

A late 19th century porcelain bottle vase, decorated throughout with cranes and clouds in white, red, black and green glazes upon a mustard yellow ground. With character marks to the underside.

Much like the peach, the crane has a long standing tradition in Chinese art and mythology representing immortality. The most important bird in Chinese iconography, along with the phoenix, the crane’s long life is thought to increase wisdom and a Taoist priest is said to turn into a feathered crane upon his death.

Qing Dynasty, Guangxu Period (1875 – 1908)