Human subjects are rarely found on Yuan blue and white porcelain. A preference for symmetry and the novelty of secular themes may have something to do with this, though earlier Cizhou pieces employed a number of human themes. 'The Romance of the Three Kingdoms', Sanguo Yanyi, became highly popular at this time, and was adapted for blue and white decoration; see Chinese Art Under the Mongols, Cleveland 1968, Catalogue, no. 139. Examples with further lotus bands around the base and neck are in the Idemitsu Art Gallery, Tokyo, illustrated in Sekai Toji Zenshu, Shogakukan Series, vol. 13, colour pl. 59; another in the Umezaqa collection is illustrated by M. Medley, Yuan Porcelain and Stoneware, no. 38A.

Compare also with a vase sold at Christie's London, 6 June 1988, lot 147 and another sold at Christie's Hong Kong, 18 March 1991, lot 517.