Two tall, baluster-shaped lidded jars on footring, wide neck, high-domed lid with spreading rim and pointed knob. Decorated in underglaze blue with an exuberant representation of large flower sprays, mainly peonies, separated by four medallions containing a landscape with birds, deer or a rooster with hens. Around the foot, on the shoulder and lid two rows of lotus-petal shaped panels with a flower spray. On the neck a band of flower sprays and a band of lotus panels with flower sprays. The base marked with a fungus (lingzhi) in a double circle. Complete with an 18th-century (French?) bronze-gilt mounting. Such richly decorated, impressive pieces were treasured decorative objects in the mansions and palaces of nobles and the well to do. They were often supplied in sets of five, analogous to garnitures and consisted of three lidded jars and two vases or beakers. Over time, these ensembles became separated, as did the lids from the jars, and complete large sets are now rare. These two matching jars have been fitted with a European mount, a regular feature on valuable Oriental porcelain status symbols (Watson).