Chinese Tulip Vase

This vase is for tulips. The holes puncturing the top are for individual stems.

The design itself is created by handpainting blue on a white field and then glazing the piece. This type of hand-painted underglaze blue and white plate was manufactured in China and is called "Chinese Export".

The type of glazing was developed in China in the 1300s. It became popular for ceramic ware shipped to foreign markets in the early 1600s. This painting on porcelain in underglaze cobalt blue is what became known today as 'blue and white'.


Source:
http://www.passionforthepastantiques.com/store/products/item/backPID/store/products/chinese-export-blue-white-porcelain-vase-c-1920/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinese_export_porcelain
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_and_white_pottery