Of impressive size, the tall ovoid body rising from a recessed, unglazed base to a waisted neck and slightly flared rim, decorated to the exterior in high relief with four figures from the Wu Shuang Pu, each clad in a colourful and elaborate costume which is painted in bright famille rose enamels, dividing the figures are sections of calligraphy around the body, and around the shoulder are four raised cartouches which enclose further calligraphy, four beribboned emblems adorn the neck above horizontal lines of calligraphy, a border of upward lotus lappets encircling the foot, hardwood stands. Period: late Qing dynasty (1644-1912). Height c. 77.5 & 78 cm.

Provenance
Acquired from Elis Eklöw (1894-1984), as evidenced by his characteristic sticker near the rim of each vase. Elis Eklöw worked for his family’s trading company August Eklöw in Stockholm, founded by his father August Eklöw (1837-1912). The company became focused on import from Asia after Elis Eklöw’s first trip to China and Japan in 1922.

The ’Wu Shuang Pu’ (Album of Unique Characters/Table of Peerless Heroes) figures are based on woodblock prints of forty folk heroes and heroines from the Han to Song dynasties. The prints were published in the late 17th century by Jin Guilang. The present pair of impressive vases depict the Wu Shuang Pu in high relief, which is exceedingly rare. The tremendous size and high quality of these vases certainly add to their striking appearance.