Blue and White Cat Headrest

c. 1900
$980 USD
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Dimensions
W: 12.0" D: 5.5" H: 6.0"
Materials
Porcelain
Purchase Quantity
Collection #
BJGG031E
Estimated Shipping
$75

To keep her elaborate hairstyle intact while sleeping, a well-to-do Qing-dynasty woman once used this ceramic headrest as a pillow. The headrest is shaped as a crouching house cat, with whiskers and fur playfully painted in the blue-and-white style. Credited with a power to protect against evil spirits, perhaps for its ability to see in the dark, the cat is the ideal guardian for a headrest pillow, protecting its owner while she dreams.

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Headrests

Headrests and neck pillows have been used since ancient times to keep the head elevated while sleeping and hold the body in a comfortable position. Whether functional or purely decorative, such headrests were crafted from a variety of materials and were often decorated with elaborate patterns or symbolic motifs.

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Blue & White Porcelain

Soon after its development in the Yuan dynasty (1271–1368 AD), blue-and-white underglaze porcelain became a favorite of the imperial court. Its broad appeal rapidly extended beyond China’s borders, becoming a lucrative export commodity highly sought after in Europe, the Middle East, and beyond.

Using cobalt imported from Western Asia, ceramic artists ground the mineral into a vibrant blue pigment that was then painted directly on a porcelain base, coated with clear glaze, and fired. This underglaze technique brought with it a shift in focus from the overall shape of a vessel to the skill and artistry traceable in its painted decoration.

Transcending time and taste, blue-and-white porcelain continues to be appreciated around the world for the intricate brushwork and brilliant blue color.

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Mick de Giulio | de Giulio kitchen design

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