Blue and White Ginger Jar with Shizi and Landscape Portraits

Chinese blue-and-white porcelain has inspired ceramists worldwide since cobalt was first introduced to China from the Middle East thousands of years ago. This contemporary example of a traditional ginger jar was artisan made in Jiangxi province. Carefully painted in tones that range from saturated blues to delicate washes, the jar is lavishly embellished with floral motifs and a central illustration of a group of scholars, cultured artists and other literati of the time, making their way through a garden. The jar’s lid is topped with a shizi dog, a symbol of protection.