Item No.: 1331
Name: A blue-and-white garlic-head vase with a Westerner asking directions
Period: Qing dynasty, Kangxi reign
Height: 39.0 cm
The relatively coarse body, thin glaze, and grayish blue coloring suggest production at a non-imperial kiln. The subject, however, is unusual. A figure with a prominent nose and long chin, interpreted as a Westerner, appears to ask directions from an elderly Chinese man in a scholar’s robe.
The Chinese commentary suggests that the scene may reflect encounters between Chinese people and Western visitors in the late Ming and early Qing periods. It regards this uncommon subject as a significant aspect of the vase’s interest.