dragon and floral decor, 17 1/2" tall, meiping vase...with a MING 6-character mark.excellent....FAHUA....Literal translation: "regulated decoration". This style of decoration on stoneware or porcelains resembles that of cloisonné metalwork. On fahua-decorated ceramics thin, raised slip lines are used to outline areas of the decoration. The unglazed porcelain object is fired and then enamels are applied to the individual areas created by the slip lines. The raised slip lines serve to inhibit enamels of different colors from flowing into each other. On stoneware pieces decorated in fahua style, a white slip coating is applied in order to provide a good surface onto which the enamels can be applied.The term fahua refers to Chinese wares with bold decoration in deep blue, turquoise, purple, green, yellow, and white alkaline glazes. The motifs are usually outlined by raised trails of white slip. Because of this technique, fahua wares are regarded as the ceramic versions of cloisonné, where the design elements are separated by copper wires.Fahua wares were produced from the fourteenth century, both in Shanxi province, northern China, and in southern China, probably at Jingdezhen, site of the imperial kilns. The high-fired porcelain body and palette employed are typical of those fahua wares made in southern China.Fahua pieces are generally thickly potted. The decorative technique was used to ornament a wider range of vessel types including garden seats, wine jars and vases.The fahua style of decoration appears to have first been developed on pottery or stoneware made in Shanxi province during the Yuan dynasty (some believe from Song), and early samples are rare. Jingdezheng started to make Fahua wares with porcelain body during Ming dynasty, Xuande reign (1426-35) to be popular during Ming. Original fahua disappeared after early Qing to be revived as much else for the decorative porcelain industry during the 20th century.Fahua type ceramics can be traced as far back as the Yuan Period. Developed in the fifteenth century production continued through the sixteenth and seventh centuries. From Chenghua to Jiajing technique and production flourished. There seemed to be a lot of movement of these pieces within China but it seems that there was very little export of these pieces. Also reign marks on these pieces is rare. Most marks will be inscriptions.There are two types of Fahua Ceramics. There is Northern Fahua and Southern Fahua. It is hard to determine which came first as the both started showing up in the Yuan Period at about the same time.