Chinese Ming Pottery Pillow w/ Lion

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Ancient & Ethnographic Art Through The Ages

By Artemis Gallery

Sep 16, 2021

Set Reminder 2021-09-16 10:00:00 2021-09-16 10:00:00 America/New_York Bidsquare Bidsquare : Ancient & Ethnographic Art Through The Ages https://www.bidsquare.com/auctions/artemis-gallery/ancient-ethnographic-art-through-the-ages-7473
Ancient art from Egypt, Greece, Italy and the Near East, as well as Asian, Fossils, Pre-Columbian, Native American, African / Tribal / Oceanic, Fine art, and much more! All categories, all price ranges... all legally acquired and guaranteed to be as described or your money back. Artemis Gallery info@artemisgallery.com

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• Lot Description
  East Asia, China, Ming Dynasty, ca. 16th century CE. A vibrant and detailed glazed porcelain pillow depicting a recumbent lion or dragon, topped by a gently curved headrest. The creature is lying down with a fierce expression and bared teeth. The backside features a circular medallion symbol for prosperity. The top of the headrest has raised circular bumps and a foliate pattern in the center. The entire pillow is covered with Sancay glaze of green and yellow hues. See more about the possible uses and meanings behind such pillows in the extended description below. Size: 10" L x 5" W x 4.75" H (25.4 cm x 12.7 cm x 12.1 cm)
  
  Initially created during the Tang dynasty (618-907), by the time of the Ming dynasty (1368-1644) ceramic pillows became a familiar domestic item for the middle to upper classes of Chinese society. However, surprisingly, they have been understudied by historians, and consequently, relatively little is understood about their function. Some scholars have suggested that they enabled better sleeping positions in order to preserve women’s' complex hairstyles. Guides published during the later Ming dynasty suggest that they were items associated with elegant lifestyles of the upper class. GaoLian argued that the porcelain used to create the pillows had health benefits, "power to brighten the eyes and benefit the pupils" (Zun sheng bajian - Eight Discourses on the Art of Elegant Living). GaoLin also argued that the pillows helped guide dreams; in China, dreams were of great import and oftentimes understood as omens. The pillow was believed to mediate between the earthly and celestial worlds.
  
  Provenance: private New Jersey, USA collection; ex-Danish collection, assembled in the 1990s
  
  All items legal to buy/sell under U.S. Statute covering cultural patrimony Code 2600, CHAPTER 14, and are guaranteed to be as described or your money back.
  
  A Certificate of Authenticity will accompany all winning bids.
  
  PLEASE NOTE: Due to recent increases of shipments being seized by Australian & German customs (even for items with pre-UNESCO provenance), we will no longer ship most antiquities and ancient Chinese art to Australia & Germany. For categories of items that are acceptable to ship to Australia or Germany, please contact us directly or work with your local customs brokerage firm.
  
  Display stands not described as included/custom in the item description are for photography purposes only and will not be included with the item upon shipping.
  
  #163107

  Condition

  Excellent condition. Minor surface nicks and chip to lion nose. Nice craquelure to glaze. TL hole on base.
• Shipping Info

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