Vase with auspicious animals

China

On view at The Met Fifth Avenue in Gallery 220

Many animal patterns appear on decorative arts, including cloisonné enamel, from the sixteenth century onward. These creatures were often imbued with auspicious meanings. Here, cranes symbolize longevity, and peafowls represent fortune. Some of them even created visual puns by using homophones. One side of this vase features magpie, deer, and monkeys, which represent “giving great wealth and bestowing a noble title.”

Vase with auspicious animals, Cloisonné enamel, China

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Vase with auspicious animals, Cloisonné enamel, China
Vase with auspicious animals, Cloisonné enamel, China
Vase with auspicious animals, Cloisonné enamel, China
Vase with auspicious animals, Cloisonné enamel, China
Vase with auspicious animals, Cloisonné enamel, China

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