Kylin Finial Chinese Porcelain Tureen with Figure Scenes
You must be a subscriber, and be logged in to view price and dealer details.
Subscribe Now to view actual auction price for this item
When you subscribe, you have the option of setting the currency in which to display prices to $Au, $US, $NZ or Stg.
- Finial - An architectural decoration, found on the upper parts of of an object. On furniture they are usually found on pediments, canopies and shelf supports. On smaller ceramic or silver items, such as spoons, they may decorate the top of the item itself, or the lid or cover where they provide a useful handle for removal.
Finials have a variety of shapes and forms. They may be urn-shaped, baluster shaped round or spiral, but usually taper into an upper point. Many real life shapes may also be used as finials, such as pineapples, berries, pinecones, buds, lotus and acorns. Sometimes animals such as a lion are depicted, or fish and dolphins. - Kylin or Qilin - A kylin or qilin is a mythical Chinese animal, dating back to the 5th century with the head of a dragon, the body of a deer and the tail of a lion. It is a regarded as a good omen bringing serenity and prosperity, and is said to appear with the coming or departure of a wise sage or illustrious ruler.
It is also part of the culture of Korea and Japan.
As well as being represented in bronze and jade, it is also used as a decorative motif on ceramics.
This item has been included into following indexes:
Visually similar items
Chinese late Qing Dynasty blue and white jar and cover, of baluster form, decorated with fan motifs of houses surrounded by sprays of flowers, flanked by loop handles and spherical finial, height 22 cm
Chinese blue and white lidded jar, decorated with scrolling leaves and flowers, the lid surmounted with a frog, height 22 cm
Early Chinese lidded porcelain bowl. Traditional lady in garden decoration. Dog of Fo finial to lid. Character marks to base. Provenance: Private Collection, ACT. Height 9 cm
Antique Minton sauce tureen and stand