Jingdezhen, China
Ming Dynasty, Tianqi Period (1620-1627)
Moulded in the form of a butterfly with open wings, raised on four feet, with details of the wings and body to the interior. 3.75cm high, 17cm wide. Cat. 528
For similar examples see Kosometsuke: Monochrome Section, Masahiko Kawahara, Kyoto Shoin Co., Ltd., 1977, p. 188 / pl. 721.
Note: Butterflies symbolise femininity, the soul of the dead, the transience of life, and personal transformation. They also reference Zhuangzi’s dream of being a butterfly raising the philosophical question “is he a man dreaming of being a butterfly or a butterfly dreaming of being a man?”
Condition report (carefully viewed under UV, strong light and magnification): minor fritting to the rim (production/firing flaw). Two areas of the rim (one at the lowest lobe of the butterfly’s wings, the other two lobes to the right) with small silver-coloured repairs.
Jingdezhen, China
Ming Dynasty, Tianqi Period (1620-1627)
Moulded in the form of a butterfly with open wings, raised on four feet, with details of the wings and body to the interior. 3.75cm high, 17cm wide. Cat. 528
For similar examples see Kosometsuke: Monochrome Section, Masahiko Kawahara, Kyoto Shoin Co., Ltd., 1977, p. 188 / pl. 721.
Note: Butterflies symbolise femininity, the soul of the dead, the transience of life, and personal transformation. They also reference Zhuangzi’s dream of being a butterfly raising the philosophical question “is he a man dreaming of being a butterfly or a butterfly dreaming of being a man?”
Condition report (carefully viewed under UV, strong light and magnification): minor fritting to the rim (production/firing flaw). Two areas of the rim (one at the lowest lobe of the butterfly’s wings, the other two lobes to the right) with small silver-coloured repairs.
