Two tall jars rise on flared bases, each a field of fine iron-red stippling with cobalt dragons twisting through blue clouds and a white yin yang disc glowing between them. Cobalt foo lions crouch on the shoulders and sit on top of each domed lid, and bands of scrollwork, lotus panels and waves frame the body. This vintage pair of Chinese porcelain temple jars is painted by hand in underglaze blue and iron red, a palette that echoes Chinese export porcelain, and the dragons that wind around them have stood for imperial power and good fortune for centuries. The finish is glossy and even, the lids fit snugly, and the matching pair gives the group real height.

Each jar stands 25 inches tall and 13 inches across, which suits the two ends of a long console, either side of a fireplace or a pair of pedestals in an entry. The red and blue carry a neutral room on their own, and the lids make them work as covered vessels as well as display pieces.

• Era: Vintage
• Origin: China
• Material: Hand-painted porcelain, underglaze blue and iron-red enamel
• Size: Pair, each 13"(DM) x 25"(H), with lids
• Color: Cobalt blue, iron red and white
• Condition: Wear consistent with age and use, part of its character and historical value. Lids included.

This vintage pair of Chinese porcelain temple jars is hand-painted with blue dragons on an iron-red ground, with foo lion handles and lid finials. Each jar measures 13 inches in diameter and 25 inches tall and comes with its lid. The pair suits a long console, a mantel or an entry.

Q: What is a temple jar in Chinese porcelain?
A: A temple jar is a tall, lidded jar with a rounded shoulder and a flared base, usually made in pairs and painted with dragons, flowers or landscapes. It is also called a ginger jar, and large versions like these became staples of Chinese export porcelain.

Q: How do you display a pair of large lidded jars?
A: Place one at each end of a console, on either side of a fireplace or on matching pedestals, with the same space around each. Keep the surroundings plain so the red and blue stay the focus.

**Please bear in mind that colors of products shown may vary slightly from their original color due to monitor display settings or photography studio