Blue and White Shizi Ginger Jar

Dating back to the Tang dynasty, blue-and-white porcelain has played a long and celebrated role in Chinese ceramic history. Prized for its pristine white surface and finely painted decoration in rich cobalt blue, blue-and-white porcelain was introduced to the West via the Silk Road where it won immediate favor. This ginger jar from Zhejiang province plays canvas to beautifully painted shizi, or fu dogs. Symbolizing power and strength, these lion-like dogs float amid stylized clouds in a heavenly realm, accompanied by a dog protector that tops the jar’s lid.