Made exclusively in Jingdezhen, China, this Middle Kingdom lavender and soft yellow vase was purchased Saturday. The store owner asked, “You are not going to use that are you?” Implying, how could I possibly fill it with water and a flower or flowers. Reason so. The use of the soft yellow belly with its beautiful glaze would sully its beauty. So instead I put a quince branch in it without water – the buds dying over night.

Chinese Ceramic Vase