Covered Jar with Polychrome Design of Carp and Weed

Fish with weeds are Chinese people’s favorite decorative design, for the Chinese word for “fish” (yu) is a homophone of that for “abundance” (yu). The carp with clearly painted scales and fins swimming amidst lotuses, duckweed, and weeds are vividly presented in polychrome colors over the glaze and the blue color beneath the glaze. The lidded jar is a masterpiece among the polychrome (wuchi) porcelain wares with underglazed blue color made in the official kilns of the Jiajing reign.