A pair of blue and white porcelain ritual pouring vessels with covers. Representing two reigns, they are identical in form and decoration. Each in the form of the archaic bronze pouring vessel, he, with globular body and broad neck spreading at the mouth, flat base and four tall, tubular feet; with a large loop handle attached on one side and joining the neck opposite a short, rising tubular spout; the cover shallow, with blue ring handle. Painted in rich blue round the body are the Eight Auspicious Symbols, wheel, conch, parasol, canopy, lotus, vase, pair of fish and endless knot, all tied in ribbons above sprays of lotus, with key-fret border above and lingzhi scrolls round the neck, on the handle and spout, and on the cover. On the glazed bases are the six-character reign-marks of Qianlong (1736–95) and Daoguang (1821–50) respectively, both written in seal script.

Reign marks:
大清乾隆年製
Da Qing Qianlong nian zhi: Made in the reign on the Qianlong emperor of the great Qing (RCIN 58813.1)

大清道光年製
Da Qing Daoguang nian zhi: Made in the reign of the Daoguang emperor of the great Qing (RCIN 58813.2)

Text adapted from Chinese and Japanese Works of Art in the Collection of Her Majesty The Queen: Volume I.