Raw porcelain. China, late Qing Dynasty, around 1800 to approx. 1st third 19th cent.
Although only the cover of a vessel, this is an interesting artistic example without glaze. Noteworthy is the compact, animated, ubiquitous, semi-plastic relief. Two scaly, five-clawed dragons, horned and with long beards, are positioned face-to-face surrounded by cloud spirals. Their sharp tongues are lively, as are the little balls (pearls) clasped between some of their claws! On the cover edge are thematically suitable Leiwen garlands (thunder motif, but lightning-thunder is meant).
DM 9,3 CM
From the collection of Jürgen L. Fischer, Ascona
From the collection of Jürgen L. Fischer, Ascona, Switzerland
Jürgen L. Fischer was one of the major European collectors of Chinese art. The extensive size of the collection largely owes to the family’s fortune from the invention of the world-famous “Uhu Alleskleber ” in 1932 (the first synthetic resin glue world-wide) by grandfather August Fischer. Jürgen L. Fischer, who lived until 2013, was an avid collector of Chinese porcelain in an astonishing wide variety, in every size and from every time period. Jürgen Fischer passed on his comprehensive knowledge in numerous specialist books – among others, his large and very instructive book about the art of Chinese snuffbottles and also an antiquarian’s guide to Chinese art.