A 19th Century Qing Dynasty Blue & White Porcelain Jar

A 19th century blue and white glazed porcelain jar, the body decorated with cartouches of domestic furniture and objects upon a blue ground of white prunus blossom.

In modern times, the prunus flower has replaced the peony as China’s national flower. One of the ‘Three Friends of Winter’, the prunus flower not only symbolises the cold season, but also longevity, beauty, purity and transitoriness of life. Also referred to as the ‘Chinese plum’ or the ‘Japanese apricot’, prunus flowers are said to exude eternal elegance and hence they signify virtue in Confucianism.

Made for the European Export Market

Qing Dynasty, Gungxu Period (1875 – 1908)