A FINE BLUE AND WHITE STEMCUP WITH 'LANÇA' CHARACTERS, QIANLONG SEAL MARK IN UNDERGLAZE BLUE

Supported on a splayed hollow stem foot angled to the cup with steep sides rising from a flat base to a flared mouthrim, the exterior painted in bright cobalt tones with eight lança characters surrounded by an undulating stem of lotus issuing large flower-heads and curled acanthus leaves, the underside with petal lappets above bands of halved florets divided by a raised rib picked out with arrowheads, the stem skirted by ruyi-heads suspending interlinked tassels, the interior with a stylised peony medallion within a double-line border repeated at the rim, the interior of the foot inscribed in underglaze blue with a horizontal six-character seal mark H 10 by 9.5 cm diam.