Great White Fleet Imperial Chinese cloisonne vase, depicting the crossed flags of America and China with the Longevity character mark, all on a blue floral ground. 8 1/4" H. Circa 1908. Provenance: Collected by the consignor's grandfather, John Baxter Smith – U.S. Navy Paymaster, who was born in 1881, attended the Norfolk Academy and was made a paymaster with the rank of ensign in 1902. He stayed in the service through 1919, when he resigned as a Lt. Commander. Smith served on the following ships: Vermont, Princeton, Elacano, Villalobos, Wilmington, Monadnock, Ohio, Rhode Island, Lancaster, and Connecticut. He sailed with the Great White Fleet, although it is not certain on which ship he served during the Great White Fleet tour. Condition: Overall very good condition. Some oxidation evident to brass.