The vase has a flared mouth, long neck, sloping shoulder, long round belly, high ring foot and a lid. There are two small bridge-shaped handles on the neck and a further six ring handles on the shoulder. The decoration comprises 13 registers, all formed of lotus petals apart from the flower appliqués and the stamped round animal designs on the neck. The lid is formed of double-layered lotus petals with a knob on top and double lotus petals sticking up around the edge. The top part of the belly is covered with three registers of lotus petals and the lower part has a double layer of impressed petal designs. The modelling of the decoration is meticulous and well balanced between the upper and lower parts. The lotus is a Buddhist symbol to represent purity, used here to take care of the spirit of the deceased.
This is a large piece, stately and imposing, with a smooth green glaze. It is one of the very few ceramics extant from the Northern Qi period and is an unrivalled piece for the study of ceramic production and design in the Northern dynasties period. (Yu Wenrong)