Blue and White Meiping Vase with a Mounted Warrior, Late Yuan Dynasty

PP-0135

Description

A tall blue and white meiping with a short neck, broad shoulders and a body narrowing to the foot. A narrow scroll band circles the base of the neck, and the shoulder carries a broad band of flower and leaf scrolls. The main band shows a bearded warrior in a plumed helmet galloping on horseback with his spear levelled, through grasses beside water. Round the rest of the body are a gnarled pine, rockwork, broad-leaved plants, bamboo and reeds, with grassy islets in the water. The rider is a Mongol rather than a Chinese warrior. Below, a classic scroll runs above a ring of tall panels, each enclosing a pendant floral motif.

The glaze is a warm ivory tone and the blue a deep, slightly greyish cobalt. The base is unglazed, showing an orange-brown body with concentric turning marks and pale patches, and there is no mark. Our Yuan dynasty page gives the background.