The scene depicted on these vases is probably 'the lantern festival', which takes place on the fifth day after the Chinese New Year. See B. Gyllensvärd, op.cit., p.61, fig.100 for a similar wucai vase, without cover, also depicting a lion-dance, which is shown in detail in fig.101; and the smaller vase in the Museum of Anastácio Gonçalves, Lisbon, very similarly decorated to the present lot, illustrated by M. A. Pinto de Matos, Chinese Export Porcelain, pp.164 and 165, no.82.