An exceptionally rare and important blue and white moon flask, Ming dynasty, Yongle period (1403-1424)

Elegantly potted, the full-bodied swelling flask with a flattened globular body of elongated section, surmounted by a slender cylindrical neck flanked by two scroll handles and resting on a slightly concave flat base, exquisitely painted on either side of the body with masterful arrangements of overhanging lychee fruit trees on both sides, all between deformed lotus-lappet borders encircling the foot and shoulder, the neck with a band of bananas leave motifs, the handles with  a scroll outlining the sides.. The 4 character seal mark is one the shoulder of the unglazed base has a deep recess base at the centre. Height  27.5 cm