This miniature 'cabinet' vase has an archaic 'gu' shape with a flaring mouth, a long neck and a round body tapering to a splayed foot. It is decorated in underglaze blue. While the floral and vegetal decoration are essentially Chinese, the congestion and denseness of the elements may indicate European influence. Some of the flower buds vaguely resemble tulips.Wares such as this were found on the Vung Tao, an Asian trading vessel, which sank in 1690, off the south coast of Vietnam. It was bound for Batavia (now Jakarta), from where, the Dutch East India Company transhipped porcelain to Europe. These miniature wares were used in large quantities to create elaborate displays on the walls and mantlepieces of European homes.
