Pair of Blue Bottle Vases

In the Qing dynasty (1644–1911), luxury items became more affordable to larger parts of the society, including women, merchants, and literati in nonofficial positions. Imperial patronage and a growing urban population encouraged consumption of luxury goods and local craftmanship. This pair of blue bottle vases exemplify the technical perfection of Qing dynasty court artisans who surpassed their predecessors in technical skill.