Scott No: 3042-43
Serial number: 2000-13
Values in set: 2
Denomination: 1.60 yuan
Date of issue: June 28, 2000
Designer: Wang Huming
Size of stamps: 40*30 mm
Perforation: 12.5
Sheet composition: 20
Printing process: offset
Printer: Beijing Postage Stamp Printing House

The special stamp set He Pot and Mare's Milk Flask (Jointly Issued by China and Kazakhstan) was issued on June 28, 2000. It consists of two stamps with a total face value of 1.60 yuan. It was jointly designed by Wang Huming of China and L. Slyusareva of Kazakhstan and printed by Beijing Stamp Printing Works using offset printing. This is a special stamp set jointly issued by the postal services of China and Kazakhstan. It features representative traditional drinking vessels from both countries, using the objects as a medium to showcase the different folk cultures of the two nations and bear witness to the friendly and neighborly partnership between China and Kazakhstan.

China and Kazakhstan are connected by mountains and rivers. Since ancient times, they have conducted trade and cultural exchanges through the Silk Road, nurturing distinctive cultures of daily utensils. The stamp set features a Qing Dynasty Chinese blue-and-white he pot and a traditional Kazakh mare's milk flask. One represents the porcelain ritual vessel of the Central Plains agricultural civilization, and the other represents the leather utensil of the grassland nomadic civilization. Using two daily vessels as cultural symbols, it presents a comparative view of the two civilizations, reflecting the charm of diverse cultures along the Silk Road and conveying the long-standing friendship between the two peoples.

Stamp Designs and Historical Background

He Pot

The main image is a blue-and-white he pot fired in Jingdezhen during the Qianlong period of the Qing Dynasty. The prototype imitates the form of an ancient bronze he, with a straight mouth, round belly, curved handle and spout, and four legs. The background features a detail from the Song Dynasty painting Pounding Tea. The he pot originated from ancient ritual vessels and was used for warming wine and brewing tea. It is a fine example of ancient Chinese ceramic craftsmanship, carrying traditional Chinese drinking vessel culture and porcelain painting art.

Mare's Milk Flask

The main image is a traditional Kazakh leather mare's milk flask, shaped and decorated with carved patterns from leather. Its form is simple and unique. It is a daily utensil used by grassland herders to store mare's milk. The background features a pattern of galloping horses on the grassland. This vessel was born from nomadic life and adapted to the grassland migration lifestyle. It is a typical representative of Kazakh nomadic folk culture.

Artistic and Design Features

The stamp set uses a realistic representation of the objects. The compositions are simple, highlighting the main subjects. The offset printing provides soft colors, faithfully reproducing the blue-and-white glaze of the porcelain and the rustic texture of the leather flask. The two stamps contrast porcelain and leather, agriculture and nomadism, with distinct yet complementary styles. They condense the traditional crafts of both countries into stamps, making it a representative work in the category of joint issues between China and other countries.