A rare dated Chinese blue and white vase and cover

A rare dated Chinese blue and white vase and cover, the body brightly painted in underglaze blue with four scaly dragons, their feet each with four claws and in pursuit of flaming pearls amidst cloud scrolls and above a band of breaking waves, the base bearing a very unusual ten character mark Da Ming Gui Qian Fu Ting Yong Wei Nian Zao. The Gui Wei cyclical date corresponds to 1583, the central four character Qian Fu Ting Yong appear to indicate that the vase was for use in a Qian hall or audience chamber. Some damage to the rim. 30cm. (2) Provenance: Believed to be from the Huth family collection, either Henry Huth or Louis Huth of Possingworth. Huths bank folded in 1927 and was followed by a dispersal sale. Edward Huth's painting of Sir Thomas Moore by Holbein is now in the Frick Museum, New York and two Velasquez were taken by the Bank of England in lieu of debts. The present vase remained with the family and thence by descent.