underglaze blue with a central register of four Buddhistic lions among foliate scrollwork issuing flowers and buds, above a border of stylised foaming waves and cloud scrolls, the shoulder with four shaped reserves of flowering branches, on a ground of alternate imbricated scales and key fretwork, with eight pairs of ruyi lappets, the narrow rock with running foliate scrollwork, the base with a six character Ming dynasty Wan Li reign mark within a double circle hut, Kangxi (1662 - 1722), 12 1/4in (31cm) high