Title: A Chinese polychrome 'The mussel and the heron' group, 18th/19th C. Description: Dimensions: H 19,5 - L 17,5 cm Ref.: E. D. EDWARDS in 'THE DRAGON BOOK ', published in London, 1938: 'THE MUSSEL AND THE HERON". A mussel was lying on the riverbank sunning itself when a heron came by and pecked at it. The mussel closed its shell, nipping the bird's beak, whereupon the bird said: 'If you don't let me go to-day or to-morrow there will be a dead mussel.' The mussel replied: 'If I don't open to-day or to-morrow, there will be a dead heron.' Just then a fisherman came along and seized them both.' It is not uncommon to see the heron replaced by a duck in depictions of this story.