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Hello, I would appreciate any opinions as to what time period this 25 inch tall moon flask was made.

It has an unusual handmade relief carving or molding of a dragon on each side and is all handpainted. The dragons are not identical on each side.

I believe it is export but when? Qing, Republic? it has an apocraphyl? Yong Sheng mark under glaze on the bottom.

The piece was stored outside on a patio by the previous owner so it was exposed to the elements and sun etc. and had a lot of dirt trapped in the relief which I cleaned off the one side for the pictures.

I cannot find any similar examples on the internet, ebay, or past auctions. Nothing with this high quality hand painting and a well carved dragon in blue white, and this size which is 64 cm tall! Thanks for any thoughts.

In my opinion, with the pictures shown, this dragon moonflask is a Qianlong emulation of a 20th century work. It does not at all emit the subtle beauty and qualities of a period piece.

Yes, I agree this is likely a twentieth century piece. Probably a Republic period exploration of new ideas (raised dragon on a blue white piece) probably a Hong Kong or other tourist piece catering for western tourist trade, or perhaps a special order.
I cannot find another example with this high quality level of relief work and painting (it is higher quality than recent made pieces, even if it is not done exactly in traditional Qing chinese style, the previous owner had this piece for at least 30 years,and bought it at a local auction back then). Also, this may have been a one time experiment that did not turn out optimally, since this heavy large 64 cm piece does have a significant lean, and gray ashiness in the glaze.
The closest raised example,quality wise , that I can find in days of searching is a "Very Large and Rare Antique Chinese Relief Decorated Bottle Vase With Writing" which sold on eBay Dec 01, 2014 for 20K. It too is not a traditional piece with its raised decoration.
There really are very few examples of quality raised relief decorated figures on porcelain vases or moon flasks out there-it is quite rare.

I will post better pictures, and the bottom view. It really is much bluer than the pictures show. I realize the great emphasis on buying and reselling is primarily on 18th and 19th century home run pieces (or at least pieces that convincingly look like 18th and 19th century, which in reality much of it was made in the 20th century). However, 20th century pieces and republic pieces are collected and sell for respectable sums all the time, just not with as much interest.

Thanks for your reply and help!!

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