Square Vase with Five Tubular Openings and String Patterns in Imitation of Ge Ware

The vase has a square body with four tubular openings evenly distributed around the shoulders, combined with the central mouth to form five openings – hence the name ‘five-opening vase’. The surface is entirely covered in a rich Ge-type glaze of soft bluish-green tone, displaying a network of fine ‘gold thread and iron wire’ crackles characteristic of the style. The exterior base bears an underglaze-blue, six-character seal-script mark in three columns: Da Qing Yongzheng Nian Zhi (Made in the Yongzheng reign of the Great Qing). Such vases were used in the imperial palace as flower holders and were known as ‘five-peaks vases’, symbolizing the five sacred mountains paying homage to Heaven.