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Hello,
The classic styling with 8 rings -including the 2 at the base and neck (Buddhist theme?) with a ruffled 5 petal mouth, sloping lines, raised on a flat foot, and the character of the interior hollowing marks with a heavy white calcium powdery deposit lining the walls may help an expert date this piece
The interior of the base was sufficiently hollowed around the sides to hold enough water for use as a vase, but the base was not fully hollowed. The lapidary auger used in the process left noticeable ridges which spiral downward to a small convex point at the center.
Thank you in advance for your comments.
Kind regards,
Kevin

Rather than 8 rings, as written above there are 10 in all, if one counts the 2 at the neck and base plus the 4 that are on each side
Ht: 6 3/4"

The truth is that because it is a soft stone,and easy to carve, it could have been done 30 years ago, or last month. I do not think that there are Soapstone specialists.
Ernest

with significant comparisons in styling among old Chinese vases in the form of a flower, a photo of a Jingdezhen Qingbai ware vase is given below. The vase is on view at the Met Museum in Manhattan. Described by the museum as vase in the shape of a flower, Southern Song dynasty, 1127 to 1279.
http://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/50236
The important similarities between the different vases from 2 separate and important Chinese decorative art disciplines, may help date the stone example with the visible evidence of the old methods employed in making it, noticeable ridges from the interior hollowing which spiral to a convex point
Both vases at the top exhibit the same character in petal design, with tall peaks between the petals which then slope down at a sharp angle to the ends. The character of the angles of the tops became less sharp and more ruffled in time.
the mouth and petals extend from a trumpeted neck above a bulbous midsection in both examples.
Above and below the midsections, fixed rings, are present, these are separate from the stone side rings. The midsection on each example is raised on a round foot.
Classic styling of Chinese vases in flower form is rare among vase forms, and dates by this account to at least the Southern Song period.
It is also interesting to see the commonality in design elements between 2 examples from different disciplines, demonstrating established ideals for a vase in flower form in meeting Chinese tastes
Thank you for your comments and contributions

Kind regards
Kevin

All,
This thread was opened under the heading of a soapstone carving, however, on further review, the color patterns would indicate it's a type of alabaster, and not soapstone at all, and with the quality of the carving, possibly shoushan by the striking patterns of red veining

Thank you for your comments

Kind regards

Kevin

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