Antique Chinese Porcelain Miniature Vase-Powder Blue w/White Slip Chrysanthemum For Sale

Antique Chinese Miniature Porcelain Vase with Raised White Chrysanthemums
Offered is a charming miniature Chinese porcelain vase, measuring approximately 2⅝ inches tall and 2⅞ inches in diameter.
The vase has a rounded, globular body and is covered in a beautiful pale powder-blue monochrome glaze. It is decorated with delicate raised white chrysanthemum blossoms, stems and leaves. The white floral decoration is executed in relief against the smooth blue ground, creating a subtle three-dimensional effect.
The principal side features two chrysanthemums on gracefully branching stems. The reverse has a single chrysanthemum with its stem and leaves.
The combination of the very pale powder-blue ground and finely detailed white-slip floral decoration makes this little vase particularly appealing. The raised decoration appears to be an example of Chinese white-slip relief decoration, a traditional ceramic technique related to the white-slip technique that later became known in France as pâte-sur-pâte.The glaze is a soft, very pale powder blue, which resembles the Chinese monochrome glaze often referred to by collectors as clair-de-lune (\"moonlight\"), although I am not certain as I am not a specialist.
The raised floral decoration appears to be white slip decoration, rather than ordinary painted decoration. The petals and leaves have been built up from the surface, with remarkably fine detail considering the miniature size of the vase.I purchased this vase in the 1970s from a Chinese antiques dealer who had fled China after Mao\'s takeover.
At the time of purchase, the dealer indicated that the vase was Chinese porcelain made for the export market in pre-Communist China. I have owned it since that time.
The vase has no visible maker\'s mark on the base, so I cannot independently establish its exact date, kiln or place of manufacture. I am therefore providing the dealer\'s information as part of the item\'s provenance.
In researching this piece, I have found examples of Chinese porcelain decorated with white slip against blue monochrome grounds, including pieces described as having clair-de-lune or powder-blue grounds. In Derek Au\'s online article on pate-sur-pate, he presents examples of this technique, including a gorgeous vase (186 A SLIP-DECORATED BLUE GROUND VASE QING DYNASTY, 19TH CENTURY) sold by Sotheby\'s that is the same color and technique as my modest vase.
I have not, however, located another example with this particularly small globular form and restrained chrysanthemum decoration. The unusual combination of scale, form, pale blue ground and white-slip relief is one reason I have kept this vase in my collection for many years.I am offering it now in the hope that it will find a new owner who appreciates unusual Chinese ceramics and the history of this decorative technique.
Condition:
The vase is in very good condition overall, with no visible cracks, chips or repairs.
There are, however, a few minor imperfections that are shown in the final photographs:

• There is a tiny divot near the mouth/rim of the vase. It appears to have been glazed over during manufacture, rather than being a later chip. I am only now noticing this for the 1st time with the close-up photography.
• There are a few small dark dots in the powder-blue ground. These appear consistent with minor manufacturing or firing imperfections in the glaze. They are part of the surface and do not appear to be later damage.These are also shown in a close-up photograph.
• The glaze and porcelain have other subtle variations and irregularities consistent with the manufacture and/or age of the piece.

Display Stand:
The vase is accompanied by a carved dark hardwood display stand, measuring approximately 2½ inches in diameter and 1 inch tall.
The vase measures approximately 2⅝ inches tall × 2⅞ inches in diameter.
With the vase placed on the stand, the overall height is approximately 3⅝ inches.
The stand has one small chip, which is clearly shown in the photographs.
I do not know whether the stand is original to the vase. It was provided with the vase by the merchant back in the 70s.
Please examine all photographs carefully. The photographs are an important part of the description and document the minor imperfections noted above.

I am not a Chinese porcelain specialist. I have owned this piece since purchasing it from the Chinese antiques dealer in the 1970s and have described it to the best of my ability based on my observations and research.

Upon purchase, I will carefully package and promptly ship it.