MEI P'ING

Pinyin mei ping, English prunus vase type of Chinese pottery vase popular especially during the Sung (9601279) and Ming (13681644) periods, the shape inspired by the youthful female breast. Often a tall celadon vase with a short, narrow neck, it was meant to hold a single branch of plum tree blossoms. Most Ming examples are white porcelain painted in underglaze blue.