Page 200 - Chinese porcelains collected by Mr. and Mrs. Charles P. Taft, Cincinnati, Ohio, by John Getz

A CATALOGUE OF

No. 57

Ming Head-rest, oblong with slightly concave sides, elaborately deco-
rated "sur biscuit" in "three colors," notably yellow, green, and au-

bergine.

The design suggests two brocaded cloths with scalloped edging, on which appear
two phoenixes, or " Fung-kwang" (the attributes of an empress), glazed in green and
aubergine on a flowered yellow tessellated ground. The center shows a peony in au-

bergine, and the other flowers are in ivory-white.

The alternating sides have overlapping brocaded bordering, showing a fine diaper

pattern in yellow and green, with a central rosette, representing a coin (emblem of
riches); and to the right and left are medallions, one vnth landscape of square form,
the other, leaf-shaped, shov^ang allegorical fruit (peach) in a dish: an emblem of mar-

riage.

The other side is similar in its decoration, differing only in the two panels, one being

leaf-shaped with butterflies (symbolical of felicity), and the other in the form of a fan,
with allegorical gift objects (denoting official rank); the top is finished with a fret bor-
der at either end, in lavender, green, and yellow.

The two end panels are sunken and show yellow ground with pomegranates in the

four comers, alternated with the symbol swastika (a mystic diagram), edged with a
yellow, green, and lavender (diamond-fret) border.

Dynasty of Ming, probably Ch'eng-hua (1465-1487).

%Size, 1 4 X 4 '/4 X 4 ^U inches.

741