Charming small porcelain bottle and plug finely decorated in blue and white with scholars relaxing in a landscape. They are apparently drinking tea as there is a water kettle on a stove in the background. We believe that these small bottles were used to store medicine but we are not sure. There is a mark 乾隆年制 (Qian Long nian zhi) which means ‘made in the Qianlong period’ (1735 – 1796) on the bottom but it dates most probably from the late Qing period (1644 – 1912) and may even be of a later date. Whatever the date of manufacture may be, the quality and workmanship are of a high standard. Height 6.8 cm. Diameter 4 cm.