Object Description
Early 18th Century Blue and White Chinese oviform jar made during the reign of the Emperor Kangxi at the kilns in Jingdezhen.
Painted in bright blue under glaze to show two chasing phoenix who are flying through scrolling leafy peonies.
The Phoenix is a compilation of other creatures, the throat of a swallow, the bill of a duck, the neck of a snake, the tail of a fish and peacock, the forehead of a crane, the crown of a Mandarin duck, the stripes of a dragon, and the vaulted back of a tortoise.
In human terms it symbolises the qualities of virtue, duty, correct behaviour and reliability and it is also the bird associated with the Empress on export porcelain it is representing the human qualities and virtues.