Blue-and-white Prunus Vase with the Design of Carrying Zither to Meet a Friend

The prunus vase (mei ping) is characterized by tall proportions, wide shoulders, narrow foot, and short and contracting neck that can barely hold a single branch of prunus blossom. During the Tianshun reign, the resulted cobalt color diversified into dark blue and pale blue with a grayish tint. This vase was made using imported cobalt blue pigment, with black iron crystals visible. Its tall proportion and thick wall exemplify the blue-and-white porcelain wares dating to the Tianshun reign.