Sold Ceramics - Sold Blue and White Kangxi Period 1662-1722 - Tea, Coffee and Chocolate wares -

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Object 2011579

Saucer

China

1700-1720

Height 18 mm (0.71 inch), diameter of rim 114 mm (4.49 inch), diameter of footring 57 mm (2.24 inch), weight 68 grams (2.40 ounce (oz.))

Saucer on footring, slightly everted rim. Decorated in underglaze blue and gold. In the central roundel a hare in reserve against an underglaze blue ground surrounded by a lappet pattern border. On the sides the three legged toad, Jin Chan, 金蟾, literally "Golden Toad" alternating with flower sprays. Around the rim a zig-zag lines pattern border. On the base a square shop mark in underglaze blue. The decoration in gold has completely rubbed off but is still visible in ghost form.

The three legged toad, Jin Chan, 金蟾, literally "Golden Toad", is most commonly translated as "Money Toad" or "Money Frog". This mythical creature is said to appear during the full moon, near houses or businesses that will soon receive good news (most of the time, the nature of this good news is understood to be wealth-related). According to one Chinese legend, the Jin Chan was the greedy wife of one of the Eight Immortals, who was transformed into a toad as punishment for stealing the Peaches of Immortality. The Jin Chan is usually depicted as a bullfrog with red eyes, flared nostrils and only one hind leg (for a total of three legs) and is often shown in the company of the Immortal Liu Hai (刘海). Both Hare and Toad are ‘semi immortal’ animals, the Hare relating to a story for a fairly lady in the moon (Chang O) and the toad (Jin Chan) relates to the immortal Liu Hai. Note the ‘air/breath’ Jin Chan breaths out indicating a mythical magic or blessing work in action. (wikipedia / S.Fan)

In Daoist mythology the three-legged toad is said to live on the moon, which it swallows during an eclipse, this making it a symbol of the unattainable. (Jörg & Van Campen 1997, p.106, cat. 100)

The hare is the symbol of longevity, fotr it is believed to grind, on the moon, the ingredients of the elixir of longevity. The toad is the symbol of the unattainable. Evoked to obtain wealth. Symbol of Spring, of fertilising rain and luck. (Pinto de Matos 1996, p.275 & p.279)

A decoration of a hare and frogs on tea wares, may have been met with amazement by Westerners, who would have considered the combination hare with frogs and tea as weird. (Jörg 2011/2, p.131)

Condition: Some fleabites and a shallow glaze chip to the rim and some chips to the inner footring.

References:

Pinto de Matos 1996, p.275 & p.279

Jörg & Van Campen 1997, cat. 100

Jörg 2011/2, p.131

wikipedia

Price: Sold.