A Chinese underglaze blue and red porcelain baluster vase, mark of Kangxi but probably later Qing dynasty, the compressed globular body and flared neck painted with a cat seated on a blossoming branch, observing two butterflies flying above peony, underglaze blue six-character mark of Kangxi within double ring to base, height 36.8cm (restoration to rim), together with wood stand. Provenance: purchased in the early 1900s by the current vendor's great-grandfather, Albert Purden, who was an inspector in the Hong Kong police force before retiring in 1925, and thence by descent.