each pear-shaped body brightly enameled with four palmettes enclosing flowering sprigs, two on a pale-green ground alternating with two on a yellow ground, divided by pairs of floral sprays, further foliate bands on the shoulder and cylindrical neck and a green-ground 'cracked-ice' and prunus pattern encircling the small bulb beneath the flared and gilt rim, all raised on a slightly splayed foot (2)

Ralph M. Chait Galleries, New York (by repute).

The vase with the narrower shoulder band with a restored chip to the mouth rim, and three chips to the footring. The other vase with a 3 cm-long break in two parts restored at the mouth rim, and a firing line to the base (approx. 1.3 cm). Expected surface wear and minor firing imperfections to both.
In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective qualified opinion.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING CONDITION OF A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE PRINTED IN THE CATALOGUE.

In both form and decoration the present pair of vases illustrate the strong mercantile ties between China and the Middle East. The form is a kind of water vessel closely following models in Ottoman frit ware and the palmettes are a centuries old and popular pattern found on Islamic textiles. A similar vase in the Boysmans Van Beuningen Museum Rotterdam is illustrated in Christiaan J.A. Jörg, Famille Verte Chinese Porcelain in Green Enamels, Groningen, 2011, cat. no. 22.