Sold Ceramics - Sold Red & Gold / Rouge-de-Fer 1690-1730 - Tea, Coffee and Chocolate wares -

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Object 2011781

Teacup & saucer

China

1710-1730

Height of teacup 32 mm (1.26 inch), diameter of rim 65 mm (2.56 inch), diameter of footring 28 mm (1.10 inch), weight 37 grams (1.31 ounce (oz.))

Height of saucer 21 mm (0.83 inch), diameter of rim 112 mm (4.41 inch), diameter of footring 55 mm (2.16 inch), weight 69 grams (2.43 ounce (oz.))

Teacup and saucer on footrings, slightly everted rims. Decorated in 'Red & Gold' / 'Rouge-de-fer' with a light (pink-wash), iron-red and gold on the glaze with the three legged toad, Jin Chan, 金蟾, literally "Golden Toad" surrounded by butterflies floral sprays. On the rim a ruyi border. The reverse is undecorated. The teacup is decorated en suite.

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). The Toad (Jin Chan) is a ‘semi immortal’ animal and relates to the immortal Liu Hai.

The three legged toad, Jin Chan, 金蟾, literally "Golden Toad" / "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.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 toad is the symbol of the unattainable. Evoked to obtain wealth. Symbol of Spring, of fertilising rain and luck. (Pinto de Matos 1996, p.279)

Condition:

Saucer: Some frits to the rim.

Teacup: On the rim three popped bubbles of glaze caused during the firing process, two firing tension glaze hairlines (only visible on one side) to the wall and a shallow smooth spot on the footring.

References:

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

Jörg & Van Campen 1997, cat. 100

Jörg 2011/2, p.131

wikipedia

Price: Sold.