Three water droppers modelled as squirrels. China, Kangxi

Decorated with famille verte enamels on the biscuit and modeled holding vine branches bearing grapes in their mouth and facing slightly to the left.

COUNTRY : China
PERIOD : Kangxi (1662-1722)
MATERIAL : Porcelain (biscuit)
SIZE : 7 cm
REFERENCE : E584
PROVENANCE : From an important European private collection
STATUT : sold
Related works :

Two similar squirrels, from The Hon. Mrs. Nellie Ionides collectionwere 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, by Regina Krahl in The Anthony de Rothschild Collection of Chinese Ceramics[3]

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

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

[3]1996, p.410, no. 233.

 

Additonal informations :

This shape 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 as early as the Yuan dynasty (1279-1368).

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. Additionally, the grape may represent the wish for many descendants.