A BLUE AND WHITE SQUARE GIN BOTTLE Late Ming Dynasty The tall square section vessel rising to gently rounded shoulders and a spiralling ribbed neck to simulate a screw-top, decorated to each face with a variety of flowering plants, the shoulders with butterflies amongst scattered flower sprays. 26.5cm (10 3/8in) high. Footnotes: 明晚期 青花花卉紋瓶 Provenance: Acquired from Olympia Antiques Fair, November 2005 (collector's notes) The shape of the present lot is a copy of a European glass bottle, usually filled with Dutch gin or brandy. Kept in specially made boxes, these are often mentioned in lists of the personal belongings of officers of VOC ships trading with China. The shape occurs in both Chinese and Japanese porcelain with necks of three kinds. The oldest is the spiralling ribbed neck, dating to the early 17th century. For further information on this lot please visit Bonhams.com For further information about this lot please visit the lot listing