Human subjects are rarely found on Yuan blue and white porcelain. Symmetry and the novelty of secular themes may have something to do with this, though earlier Cizhou pieces employed a number of human themes. The Romance of the Three Kingdoms (Saguo Yanyi) became highly popular at this time, and was adapted for blue and white decoration; see Cinese Art Under the Mongols, Exhibition, Cleveland 1968, Catalogue, no. 139. Examples with further lotus bands around the base and neck are illustrated in the Idemitsu Art Gallery, Tokyo, is illustrated in Sekai Toji Zenshu, Shogakukan Series, vol. 13, colour pl. 59; another in the Umezaqa Colleciton is illustrated by Medley, Yuan Porcelain and Stoneware, no. 38A.

Compare also with a vase sold Christie's London, 6 June 1988, lot 147 and another sold in these Rooms, 18 March 1991, lot 517