These tall, trumpet-necked vessels take their nickname, phoenix-tail vases, from the way the flared mouth recalls the fanned tail feathers of the mythic bird. The form developed at the Longquan kilns in southern Zhejiang during the Yuan-early Ming period (14th-15th centuries) and was revived for export in the 19th century, when Western demand for "oriental" celadon was at its height.

Each vase is carved with peony scrolls that emerge in low relief beneath a lustrous bluish-green glaze. Minute crackles in theglaze, encouraged by controlled cooling, were prized for the jade-like network they create. By the late Qing dynasty, Longquan workshops were producing such pieces specifically for overseas merchants.