A rare underglaze blue and copper red 'butterfly' vase, Qing dynasty, 18th century

Acquired by the proprietor of an antique shop in Liverpool, the great-grandfather of the present owner's mother, and thence by descent.

This rare vase is notable in its large size, complex diaper ground and remarkably controlled application of copper-red pigments. Compare a closely related vase of this form, red-and-blue design and butterfly handles with added landscape cartouches sold at Christie's New York, 6th November 1980, lot 386 and illustrated in Anthony du Boulay, Christie's Pictorial History of Chinese Ceramics, Oxford, 1984, p. 207, pl. 4.