A pair of famille-noire vases of baluster form Qing Dynasty

decorated on the biscuit in famille-noire and famille-verte enamels with a pair of long-tailed phoenix and other birds perched on craggy rocks and on the branches of flowering prunus and magnolia reserved on a black ground, stands.

Estate of Martha Baird Rockefeller, 1971

This particular vase form, with high shoulders, short neck and a slightly flared mouth, is somewhat unusual in the repertoire of large, famille-noire vases.  The more typical forms include yen-yens, beaker, rouleau and square section vases.  For an example of a vase of similar form from the John D. Rockefeller, Jr. Collection, please see illustrated in Chinese Porcelain Company, New York, "Dealer's Record 1985-2000," pp. 114-115.