This vase is made of fine porcelain painted in underglaze blue with a design of flying phoenixes and foliage. In China the phoenix was an auspicious symbol traditionally used to represent the empress. This symbolism would have been lost on a Victorian audience, but the decoration would have been appealing for its connection with the exotic East. Commonly known as 'Chinese blue-and-white', vases like this were used to decorate the interiors of many British homes in the 19th century.

Chinese blue-and-white had been imported into Britain since the 16th century. Although by the 1870s they were no longer rarity items, they continued to feature prominently in interior design. Rooms were filled with blue and white porcelain of different shapes and sizes to create a sumptuous effect. Older pieces were displayed alongside newer products.