Two Rare Porcelain Fish Jars

Two large, rare and important Chinese porcelain jars, both decorated with fish swimming amongst aquatic plants and of a shape known in Chinese as guan. The earlier jar, painted in rich cobalt blue under brilliant clear glaze is mid-14th century in date, made in the Yuan Dynasty (1279-1368). The larger jar on show dates from the Jiajing reign period (1522-1566) of the Ming Dynasty with a cover made in the 20th century by Kawase Chikushun II.