A Chinese Porcelain Blue and White Tulip Vase with Animals

Qing dynasty (1644-1912), 19th century, porcelain hand painted in underglaze blue, a lobed vase with five circular openings to main body and another atop a slender raised column topped with lotus blossom bulb mouth, the body is decorated with a myriad of animals, both real and imagined, in procession encircling the vase, raised on six circular foot rims.

9 3/4 in., 7 1/4 in. diameter

From the Estate of the late Businessman and Conservationist, Russell M. Leiman, Durham, North Carolina Russell Leiman built a significant portion of his career in Asian financial and corporate markets. Based in the major business centers of Hong Kong and Tokyo in the 1970s and 1980s, he advised and managed operations for global firms entering Asian markets, navigating the region’s diverse regulatory environments and rapidly growing economies. His expertise centered on structuring investments, developing multinational business strategies, and aligning Western corporate objectives with the business culture and market realities of East and Southeast Asia. At 50 years old, he moved his focus from finance to philanthropy, becoming deeply involved with The Nature Conservancy in Asia, where he helped apply private-sector financial models to support conservation initiatives across the region.

C. Y. Tse, Hong Kong, purchased in April 2001

Hairline wrapping around two circular openings but stops at shoulder; small firing crack to underside; a few small wax deposits to rim at top.