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Lot Essay
The top of this pillow is of ruyi ‘wish-granting’ shape. The ruyi shape is based on a stylized form of the lingzhi fungus, which was believed to be able to prolong life, ward off evil and ensure the vigor of its possessor.
The peony flower has traditionally been associated with royalty, having been cultivated in the imperial gardens as early as the Sui and Tang dynasties, and thus is often called the 'king of flowers'. One of the many names given to the peony in Chinese is fuguihua, or 'flower of wealth and honor', which comes from the writings of the famous Song dynasty philosopher Zhou Dunyi (1017-73). The fact that the peony on the present pillow is shown borne on a meandering vine-like stem is significant. One of the Chinese words for ‘vine’ is man, which is a pun for wan, meaning ‘ten thousand’. The combination of all these elements thus suggest the phrase fugui wandai, or 'may wealth and rank continue for ten thousand generations'.
For another ruyi-shaped pillow with peony decoration, see the Northern Song pillow attributed to the Xiaguan kiln in Mixian, Henan province, in the Museum of the Western Han Tomb of the Nanyue King, Guangzhou, illustrated in Chinese Ceramics Pillow: The Mr. & Mrs. Yueng Wing Tak Gift, Hong Kong, 1993, pl. 54.
The result of Oxford Authentication Ltd. thermoluminescence test number P208c71 is consistent with the dating of this lot.
The peony flower has traditionally been associated with royalty, having been cultivated in the imperial gardens as early as the Sui and Tang dynasties, and thus is often called the 'king of flowers'. One of the many names given to the peony in Chinese is fuguihua, or 'flower of wealth and honor', which comes from the writings of the famous Song dynasty philosopher Zhou Dunyi (1017-73). The fact that the peony on the present pillow is shown borne on a meandering vine-like stem is significant. One of the Chinese words for ‘vine’ is man, which is a pun for wan, meaning ‘ten thousand’. The combination of all these elements thus suggest the phrase fugui wandai, or 'may wealth and rank continue for ten thousand generations'.
For another ruyi-shaped pillow with peony decoration, see the Northern Song pillow attributed to the Xiaguan kiln in Mixian, Henan province, in the Museum of the Western Han Tomb of the Nanyue King, Guangzhou, illustrated in Chinese Ceramics Pillow: The Mr. & Mrs. Yueng Wing Tak Gift, Hong Kong, 1993, pl. 54.
The result of Oxford Authentication Ltd. thermoluminescence test number P208c71 is consistent with the dating of this lot.