A Chinese famille rose export porcelain garniture of five vases, Yongzheng period, comprising three baluster jars and covers and a pair of beaker vases, each of moulded panelled octagonal form, each facet moulded with recessed vertical panels finely enamelled with landscapes and flowers, reserved against iron red whorl ground borders filled with scattered pink peonies and blossoming white prunus, each domed cover with seated Buddhistic lion finial, height of jar and cover 64cm, height of beaker vase 49cm (minor faults). Note: garnitures of this type were made to adorn the interiors of palaces and mansions from the late Kangxi period. As with many Chinese porcelains made for the export market, five-piece garnitures were derived from Chinese domestic prototypes. Altar sets are believed to have been adopted for Western decorative purposes in relation to the size of chimney pieces and cupboards in European homes. The five-piece garniture was very popular and can be found in important royal collections. A similarly moulded pair of jars and covers is illustrated by Williamson and Tuttle in 'The Book of Famille Rose', plate LV, from the A.E. Cumberbatch Collection, 1970. A similar garniture was sold by Sotheby's, London, 7th November 2007, Lot 349.