A SMALL CHINESE BLUE AND WHITE BEAKER VASE Qing Dynasty, Kangxi Period 清康熙 青花花卉紋盃 The slender body atop a stepped, domed foot, painted to the exterior with petal-form panels enclosing sprays of peonies and chrysanthemums, the base with an artemisia leaf mark, 11.3cm high Note: Beakers such as these were originally created with covers, and were likely exported to Europe during the 17th century for the purpose of drinking chocolate. Similar pieces were recovered from the Vung Tao wreck, dated to circa 1690, and were subsequently offered for sale by Christie's Amsterdam in 1992. Similar examples are illustrated in Christie's Amsterdam, 'The Vung Tao Cargo - Chinese Export Porcelain', 7th - 8th April 1992, lots 73-78. c.f. For further details see William R. Sargent, 'Treasures of Chinese Export Ceramics from the Peabody Essex Museum', 2012, pp.128-129.