KANGXI 1662 – 1722 Chinese Export Porcelain
A Kangxi Blue and White Porcelain Ovoid Jar Decorated with Three Powerful Energetic Upright Qilins Perched on Jagged Rocky Outcrops Surrounded by a Stormy Sea with Waves Crashing Around Their Feet. With a Later Wood Cover.
SOLD
- Condition
- Good, an area restored on the outside, this appears to be either covering a glaze flake or firing fault as the interior is not damaged. In other words the restoration is just to the exterior surface of the jar c.15 x 15 mm, the thing that the sprayed restoration is cover will be quite a bit smaller than this. Numerous old small chips to the unglazed edge of the rim. Small chip to the lower edge of the wooden cover which replaces the original porcelain one.
- Size
- Height : 21.3 cm (8 1/3 inches).
- Provenance
- N/A
- Stock number
- 23176
Photos
Information
Qilin or Kylin :
A Qilin (Kylin) is a mythical hooved Chinese chimerical creature. Despite its fierce demeanour it is a good omen that brings Rui (roughly translated as `serenity` or `prosperity`), longevity, illustrious offspring and wise administration. The scaly body has a dragons head, hooves and can appear to have fire issuing from its body. The male Qilin is called a Qi and the female a Lin. The male often has horns. These creatures carefully tread to avoid all living insects or destroy grass under foot, it is reputed to be able to walk on water as well as land. Qilin only appear to mankind when an emperor of the highest benevolence sits on the throne or when a sage is about to be born. There is a strong argument that the Qilin is a stylised representation of the giraffe. This is because the Qilin is referred to only since the Ming Dynasty. The time of its first reference correspond roughly with the voyages of Zheng He, there were seven voyages between 1405 and 1433 (Zheng He lived c.1371–1435). It is known that on Zheng He`s voyage to East Africa (landing, among other places, in modern-day Kenya), the fleet brought back two giraffes to Beijing. It is also known that these two giraffes were referred to as Qilins. The Emperor proclaimed the giraffes magical creatures, whose capture signalled the greatness of his power.