H. 40 cm Condition A VERY RARE UNDERGLAZE BLUE AND COPPER RED VASE, DECORATED WITH A CRANE AND CURSIVE SCRIPT CALLIGAPHY, China, 18th ct. The calligraphic inscription shows the "danxi tie" of the "shiqi tie" (Seventeen Posts) bei Wang Xizhi (303-361), one of the most famous calligraphers in Chinese history. Painted seals: "Wu Yue" and "Dianheng" and painted mark: "Taocheng tang" (Studio Taocheng). The mark "Taocheng tang" can be found on porcelain made in the official kilns during the Qianlong, for example, on an underglaze blue and copper red porcelain brushpot with an inscription after Sun Guoting (648-703), now in the collection of the National Museum of China. The mark "Taocheng tang" is often thought to be that of Tang Ying (ca. 1682-1756), who wrote a report called "Taocheng jishi" (Report of the success of the ceramics production) at the end of the Yongzheng period. One similar vase is illustrated in: The Complete Collection of Treasures of the Palace Museum (vol. 3), Blue and White Porcelain with Underglaze Red, Hong Kong, 2000, p. 215, no. 196.-Former property from an old European private collection-Few glaze frits or small chips to mouth rim