Blue and White Dragon and Phoenix Flask Vase

A LARGE CHINESE PORCELAIN FLASK VASE OF FLATTENED RECTANGULAR FORM, FEATURING AN OVAL CHRYSANTHEMUM COLLAR RIM, ARCHED SHOULDERS BEDECKED WITH SCULPTED CHILONG OR MAKARA-FORM HANDLE LOOPS, AND VERTICAL SIDE PANELS TAPERING TOWARD A RECTANGULAR, UNGLAZED BASE. RENDERED IN THE YUAN STYLE WITH AN APOCRYPHAL HORIZONTAL INCRIPTION ALONG THE SHOULDER IN PINYIN READING "DA YUAN GUO ZHI ZHENG SHI YI NIAN ZHI" (MANUFACTURED IN THE ELEVENTH YEAR OF ZHIZHENG, GREAT YUAN DYNASTY). THE MAIN FACES ARE VIGOROUSLY PAINTED WITH A FOUR-CLAWED IMPERIAL DRAGON STRIDING AMIDST LINGZHI CLOUDS ABOVE ROARING WAVES, SURMOUNTED BY A LARGE RUYI-SHAPED CARTUCHE ENCLOSING A PHOENIX BIRD CONCEALED IN FLOATING FLORAL SPRAYS. THE RECTANGULAR SIDE COVERS ARE ADORNED WITH AN EXTENSIVE SCROLLING LOTUS VINE PATTERN. CONDITI...