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Vase with a pear-shaped upper section, a tapering neck, a narrow waist and a square lower section, the base unglazed. On the lower section below a ruyi-border in four square panels a lion-dog, a winged horse, a qilin and a white elephant over crested waves. On the shoulder squares and roundels with the character shou, longevity, on a fond of scrolls. Around the narrow waist, reserved against a blue ground, scrolls and flower heads enclosing the character shou. On the upper section above a flame border, three medallions enclosing cranes amidst scrolls reserved against a blue ground, surrounded by shou characters in roundels and free-floating. The neck with a ruyi-border and shou characters below the rim.
This ceramic shape, the Sheng, appears to have been introduced in the Jiajing period. On the vase the character shou abounds. This reference to longevity is in keeping with the emperor Jiajings interest in immortality. The cranes likewise symbolize long life. Objects with this type of decoration could also have been used as gifts to wish the recipient a long life. The theme of fantastic creatures amidst clouds over waves may derive from a Han dynasty book called the Shan Hai Jing (Classic of the Seas and Mountains) where these animals are described. They are depicted on porcelain from the early 15th century onwards. They are usually caught in mid flight instead of the rather static poses on this vase.
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