Blue-and-white Covered Jar with Cloud and Dragon Designs, Marked with a Chinese Character for “Longevity” (Shou)

A pair of flying dragons, medallions of the Chinese characters for “longevity” (shou), and cloud patterns can be found on the lid and the stomach of the jar. Waves and cliffs, symbolizing longevity, are decorates the lower part right above the bottom. As a symbol of imperial supremacy and dignity, the motif of dragon among clouds can be frequently found on objects of imperial provenance in the Ming and the Qing (1644-1911) dynasties. Blue-and-white porcelain wares of the Jijajing reign primarily adopted the imported cobalt blue pigment “Mohammedan blue” (hui qing). Porcelain wares decorated with Mohammedan blue demonstrate rich blue color with a purple tint, which is a