AN ARMORIAL BLUE AND WHITE FLASK FOR THE PORTUGUESE MARKET MING DYNASTY, CIRCA 1610-1620

AN ARMORIAL BLUE AND WHITE FLASK FOR THE PORTUGUESE MARKET MING DYNASTY, CIRCA 1610-1620 the slightly convex circular body painted on the front in bright shades of cobalt-blue with a central medallion enclosing the arms of Spain: Castile and Leon quarterly around a cross of the Order of Aviz or the Order of Christ, all encircled by an array of flowers, the reverse with two large blossoms and a bamboo shoot issuing from pierced rocks with a pair of butterflies hovering above, the curved sides with stylised lotus scrolls, all supported on a spreading rectangular foot with a spray of lotus on each face and surmounted by a tall tapering neck with further floral sprays below a strapwork floral band at the rim 29.8cm., 11 3/4 in.