Description:
This round bottle-shaped porcelain vase decorated with a flambé polychrome glaze and a sculptured high-relief dragon, has a fine crackle. The base is sunken, glazed with a prominent crackle and unmarked. This vase symbolizes the water dragon rising from the water and is most probably one of the creations of great Imperial Factory Superintendent of Jingdezhen, Tang Ying (1682-1756). The dragon traditionally symbolizes potent and auspicious powers, particularly control over water, rainfall, and floods. The dragon known as the Dilong, was the controller of rivers and seas. They are believed to be the rulers of moving bodies of water, such as waterfalls, rivers or seas. In this capacity they are the rulers of water and weather. In the Qing dynasty, the 5-clawed dragon was assigned to represent the Emperor, the 4-clawed dragon the Empress, while 3-clawed dragons were assigned to the commoners. The dragon is also a symbol of power, strength and good luck.