Chinese Blue and White Tea Jar, c. 1900

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Brushed with dark cobalt blue atop a creamy white field, this Qing-dynasty tea leaf jar beautifully exemplifies the timeless allure … Read more Brushed with dark cobalt blue atop a creamy white field, this Qing-dynasty tea leaf jar beautifully exemplifies the timeless allure of blue-and-white porcelain. The tea jar has a gently tapered form with a wide base and high shoulders that flow into a constricted neck topped with a small round lid. The hand-painted decoration depicts an auspicious phoenix in flight, soaring through clouds painted as an abstract fish-roe pattern. The auspicious phoenix is an important symbol in Chinese culture, a powerful mythical creature embodying prosperity and benevolence. See less