This elegantly shaped jar with graceful contour and very even and unctuous apple-green glaze is among the best of Chinese monochrome porcelain. There are three golden eras of Chinese monochrome porcelain: Song dynasty, having thick glaze with surface texture like semi-polished jade; the Kangxi-Yongzheng-early Qianlong period, and Guangxu (1875-1908 AD) period. This jar epitomizes the quality of the last golden era. Its shape is called pomegranate jar, which has traditionally been used to contain water for use in imperial studies. The outer base has a very well-written and typical underglaze blue imperial mark. From Dr. Robert I-San Lin (#1849), a senior Chinese artwork appraiser, whose grandfather was a major Chinese antique merchant in early 1900s. (Dr. Lin’s bio, in Journal of Authentication of Artworks, 2015, available on request). Brought to California in 1960s. H. 10.4, dia. 10.1 cm; 318 grams.