Longquan vases of this form, undoubtedly inspired by contemporaneous metal ware, are exceptionally rare. The Palace Museum in Beijing has a very similar vase, illustrated in Ceramics Galleries of the Palace Museum, Part II, Beijing, 2008, p. 373, pl. 290. Another smaller vase without the moulded decoration is in the British Museum, illustrated by J. Harrison-Hall in Ming Ceramics in the British Museum, London, 2001, p. 474, pl.16:33 where the author mentions the unusual roll-up mouth with bosses might have taken its inspiration from the Tibetan brass and copper ewers. Another example with a carved rather than moulded primary decorative band was sold at Christie's Hong Kong, 29 May 2007, lot 1472.

The application of sprig-moulded ornaments on Longquan celadons developed during the Yuan dyansty. This technique involved the manufacture of separate ornaments in open moulds and then applied to the clay body before glazing and firing. Incising and moulding in relief were the most common techniques used individually or in combination as seen on the present lot.