Chinese Blue & White Octagonal Porcelain Bowl With Qilin – Textile Pattern – 7” – Ming Revival Style

Details

Description

A striking Chinese blue and white octagonal porcelain bowl featuring a central qilin rendered in expressive underglaze cobalt.

The interior … Read more A striking Chinese blue and white octagonal porcelain bowl featuring a central qilin rendered in expressive underglaze cobalt.

The interior is finished in a soft celadon-toned glaze with a single, dynamic qilin at the center. The creature’s posture — almost like a prancing pony — gives it remarkable movement and personality. The brushwork is confident and economical, allowing the mythical form to feel lively and animated against the calm field of celadon.

In contrast, the exterior is richly and densely decorated with an intricate, textile-like ground pattern in layered cobalt tones. The repeating geometric motifs resemble woven Asian fabrics, creating a tactile, almost embroidered visual texture. The octagonal form enhances this architectural quality, giving the piece strong sculptural presence from every angle.

This interplay between dense, textile-inspired decoration and the minimal, spirited interior motif gives the bowl a beautifully balanced composition.

Symbolism:
The qilin (ky-lin) represents prosperity, protection, and virtuous leadership in Chinese tradition. See less