Ming-style Blue and White Double Gourd Vase with Animals

• Kylin or Qilin - A kylin or qilin is a mythical Chinese animal, dating back to the 5th century with the head of a dragon, the body of a deer and the tail of a lion. It is a regarded as a good omen bringing serenity and prosperity, and is said to appear with the coming or departure of a wise sage or illustrious ruler.
  
  It is also part of the culture of Korea and Japan.
  
  As well as being represented in bronze and jade, it is also used as a decorative motif on ceramics.
• Manner of .... / Style of ..... - A cataloguing term where the item, in the opinion of the cataloguer is a work in the style of the artist, craftsman or designer, possibly of a later period.
• Ming Dynasty - The Ming Dynasty was a ruling dynasty of China from 1368 to 1644. It succeeded the Yuan Dynasty and preceded the Qing Dynasty. The Ming Dynasty was established by Zhu Yuanzhang, a former Buddhist monk who became a rebel leader and eventually overthrew the Mongol Yuan Dynasty. During the Ming Dynasty, China experienced a period of relative stability and prosperity. The government was centralized and bureaucratic, with the emperor at the top of the hierarchy. The Ming Dynasty is known for its cultural achievements, including the development of porcelain, the invention of movable type printing, and the construction of the Great Wall of China.
  
  

This item has been included into following indexes:

• Chinese antiquities by dynasty - Ming Dynasty 1,230
• Chinese ceramics, item type - vases, other 2,484