This porcelain jug was made at the kilns of Jingdezhen in southern China in the early decades of the 19th century. At this time, Chinese blue and white porcelain was still exported to Europe although the competition of local ceramic factories led to a substantial decrease in volume.

The scene depicted in underglaze blue on this jug is a stylised version of the traditional Chinese river landscape, a subject re-invented and integrated into the repertoire of western chinoiserie and often imitated again on Chinese porcelain made for export. The design was appreciated by European clients who considered it purely 'oriental' and 'exotic', although it was very distant from the Chinese taste.