A famille verte water-dropper. China, Kangxi

The water-dropper is decorated in the famille verte palette and depicts a squirrel approaching grapevines on one of the Daoist Eight Precious Things, an artemisia leaf, a symbol of felicity, healing and health.

COUNTRY : China
PERIOD : Kangxi (1662-1722)
MATERIAL : Porcelain
SIZE : 7 cm
REFERENCE : E583
PROVENANCE : From an important European private collection
STATUT : sold
Related works :

Two similar squirrels, from The Hon. Mrs. Nellie Ionides collection were exhibited in 1947 at Chinese ceramics Figures[1] and published in A Tale of Three Cities[2].

Further examples are published by William R Sargent in The Copeland Collection[3] and by Regina Krahl in The Anthony de Rothschild Collection of Chinese Ceramics

[1]Oriental Ceramic Society, 1947, no. 96

[2] Canton, Shanghai and Hong Kong, Sotheby’s London, 1997, no. 102

[3] 2006, p. 34_35, no. 5

Additonal informations :

This rodent has alternately been described as a squirrel, a dormouse or a tree shrew, but it most certainly represents a squirrel, song shu (pine rodent). The squirrel is frequently represented in conjunction with grapevines and appears regularly in the fine and decorative arts of China from as early as the Yuan dynasty (1279-1368).

As squirrels have large litters, the depiction of a squirrel on a trailing vine may be a visual rebus for a wish for many sons and the continuation of the family line, the winding vine representing the family lineage. It has also been suggested that the squirrel and grape-vine motif convey a wish for promotion to a higher rank.

In addition, the words for ‘squirrel’ and ‘pine tree’ (song-shu) are homonyms; the second character for ’grape’ (putao) is a homonym for ‘peach’ (tao). The pine tree is one of the most venerated symbols of longevity, while the peach is the most common symbol of immortality.

By substituting the motif of squirrels and grapes for the pine tree and peach, a rebus is formed wishing longevity to the viewer.