19 août 2023
Box with Qilin and Xiezhi, Ming Dynasty, Jiajing Period (1522-1566)
Box with Qilin and Xiezhi, Ming Dynasty, Jiajing Period (1522-1566). Porcelain with underglaze blue and overglaze enamel decoration; 10.2 x 15.9 cm. The Alfred and Margaret Caspary Memorial Gift, Philadelphia Museum of Fine Art, 1955-50-372a,b.
The mythical creatures on the cover of this box—the qilin and the one-horned xiezhi—are auspicious omens associated with a benevolent ruler. The xiezhi also symbolizes justice as it can distinguish the innocent from the guilty.
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