Porcelain was invented in ancient China, so it's not at all surprising that Asian antique vases are especially coveted. Early on, Chinese and Japanese artisans mastered the art of making stunning vases from the strong, white clay. Before porcelain was perfected, the ancient Chinese potters also invented the celadon glaze, used to make ceramics and stoneware replicate jade's greenish glow.

During the Yuan Dynasty (1271-1368) in China, illustrations based on lyrical poems and stories about birds, animals, fish, and insects adorned the vases in cobalt blue—that was the only color available at the time for their particular porcelain-painting technique. That's why blue-and-white designs have become a tradition in Chinese and Japanese porcelain.

The Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), however, brought an explosion of colorful and innovative polychrome porcelain designs, with images drawn in fine lines of dragons and animals like l...ions and fish. Other drawings were more intricate—motifs for these vases included flowers, fruit, birds, women in traditional dress, and scenes from opera and literature