Jar and cover with two ladies in a fenced garden

This jar has an ovoid body, a short neck and a flat cap cover. It belongs to a Garniture set of five (with three jars, LL 6206, LL6207 & LL 6138; and two beakers, LL 6136 & LL 6137). On the sides of the jar is a broad, ribbed band with four medallions, in each of which is a pair of ladies in landscape. Above and below are bands with floral sprays. It is painted in underglaze blue with a scene from the play ‘The Romance of the Western Chamber’ (Xi Xiang Ji). The beautiful maiden Cui Yingying and her maid Hongniang chat in a garden.