CHINE - Début XIXe siècle - Lot 108

CHINE - Début XIXe siècle Vase with globular body and high flared neck called "shangping" porcelain decorated in blue underglaze with a dragon rising from the clouds. (Firing defects) H. 37 cm The dragon, an ancient symbol, is one of the four divine animals, notably the blue dragon of the east, with the white tiger of the west, the red phoenix of the south and the black warrior (a hybrid animal between the tortoise and the snake) of the north. The dragon is the most important of the mythical beasts, it brings rain and is a symbol of fertility. It is also the symbol of the emperor. Clouds are symbols of good omen and a homophone for luck (fuyun). They also bring the rain that the country needs to feed itself. Because of their high position in the sky, they are also symbols of high rank position in the Chinese mandarin system. This decoration is based on decorations often used in the Ming Dynasty and in the 18th century under the Qianlong Emperor (1736 - 1795).