This beautiful pair of Chinese blue and white porcelain vases was made during the late Qing dynasty, circa 1880.
Standing 15.5 inches tall, the rouleau-shaped vases have the scale, symmetry, and decorative presence that make a true pair especially desirable.
Each vase is hand painted in cobalt blue with songbirds perched among flowering branches.
The painting continues around the bodies, with slight differences in the scenes giving each vase its own character while preserving the balance of the pair.
The cobalt decoration ranges from deep, confident outlines to softer washes within the birds, leaves, and branches, creating both crispness and depth against the broad white porcelain surfaces.
Diaper-pattern decoration covers the sloping shoulders and encloses circular floral reserves.
Bands of dots, geometric ornament, and upright leaves rise through the necks, while bold lappet borders finish the bases.
The naturalistic bird-and-flower scenes are beautifully balanced by these more formal patterned bands.
The vases remain in excellent condition, an important advantage for a matched pair of Chinese porcelain vases of this scale.
Their strong vertical forms and classic blue and white palette make them especially effective on a mantel, console, or large table.

Dimensions: 15.5″ tall x 6.5″-7″ diameter at the widest point
Decoration: Hand-painted cobalt-blue birds among flowering branches, with floral reserves and geometric, leaf, dot, and lappet borders
Condition: Excellent, with tiny original firing imperfections as made
Material: Porcelain
Origin: China
Date: Circa 1880
Height: 15.5 inches