A porcelain form influenced by West Asian culture, first fired in the Jingdezhen kilns during the Yongle and Xuande reigns of the Ming Dynasty. It features a small mouth, a straight neck, broad shoulders, and a false ring foot, with a large spherical belly resembling a celestial globe—hence its name
During the Ming Dynasty, the vase had a thick body, a slightly contracted mouth, a short neck, and a shape that was wider at the top and tapered downward. By the Qing Dynasty, the neck became slightly longer, and the belly more rounded. In addition to the traditional blue-and-white varieties, painted styles such as wucai (five-color), fencai (famille rose), and doucai (contrasting colors) also emerged.
