Chinese Porcelain Blue and White Qilin Lidded Jar

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Description

Chinese porcelain blue and white qilin lidded jar, a finely formed, round, lidded vessel with gently bulging sides, a blue … Read more Chinese porcelain blue and white qilin lidded jar, a finely formed, round, lidded vessel with gently bulging sides, a blue and white glazed exterior and white glazed interior and inset base. The lid is decorated with branching mushrooms in the form of a right facing wanzi, within a ring of half circles and the side of lid is decorated with a band of clouds, bracketed by thin ringlets. The short neck is circled by a thin ringlet with a band of blue and white, Ru Yi lappets below. The body of the jar is decorated with four qilins flying over ocean waves and spume amid xiangyun and flames, ending in a band of Ru Li lappets at the foot. A blue, Tian, dedication mark is glazed to the inset base. Circa Republic of China era, no later than mid century.

Tian: heaven, a mark used on ceramics from the Song to Qing dynasties.

Right facing Wanzi: a swastika sun symbol meaning good luck and prosperity and also the footprints of the Buddha.

Xianyun: Cloud motifs are rooted in the agrarian culture of the Chinese people.   Clouds are associated with good luck as the cloud makes rain which moisten all things, and therefore, it brings good fortune to people. In Chinese language, clouds are called yun (云; 雲; yún) which is a homonym for the Chinese character yun "good fortune" (运; 運; yùn). Clouds (especially the five-coloured clouds) are perceived as an auspicious sign (e.g. an omen of peace, a symbol of Heaven, and the expression of the Will of Heaven. They also symbolize happiness and good luck. See less