20th century, garlic head example with underglaze blue Qianlong seal mark, painted all over with stylized lotus scrolls, 11-1/4 in.; bottle vase with underglaze blue Yongzheng reign mark, painted with sun and stylized clouds, 7-1/4 in.

Note: Two fine examples of Doucai vessels, where parts of the design, and some outlines of the rest, are painted in underglaze blue, and the piece is then glazed and fired. The rest of the design is then added in overglaze enamels of different colors and the piece fired again at a lower temperature. The first example with a garlic shaped head, reflects a more traditional design of floral shapes and intertwined vines. The second, an enameled interpretation of the sun (it is the epitome of 'yang' and in this regard is also called ?? t…i yang) representing: light, heat, vitality, spring and east (where the sun rises) or the moon (a symbol of peace, prosperity, and family reunion.)

minor wear