GJPaw Auctions is pleased to offer auspicious Chinese  Pillow or headrest in the form of an Elephant. The earliest known pillows date back over 9,000 years to Mesopotamia, or modern day Iraq. Formed from stone, the tops were carved in a half-moon shape to support the neck. Over many dynasties in China, pillows were made from a wide range of materials including stone, bamboo, jade, porcelain, wood, and bronze. Since the Sui dynasty, around 600 AD, porcelain pillows have been made in China. Widely manufactured in the Tang dynasty (618-907), ceramic pillows became a familiar and popular domestic item for the middle to upper classes of Chinese society. With each successive dynasty pillow design changed, styles becoming more elaborate from the basic geometric shape, and included imprinted designs, elaborate human and animal forms, and a variety of colors and textures. A 1591 Chinese style guide explained that, "Ceramics may be used to make pillows… It has [the] power to brighten the eyes and benefit the pupils”. Though they had the knowledge and ability to create soft pillows, the Chinese believed that such pillows stole energy and vitality (chi or life force energy) from the body while one slept and were ineffective at keeping demons away. This lovely ceramic pillow features the highly auspicious elephant. It measures 5.25 inches in width by 7.12 inches in depth by 4.75 inches in height (13.3 cm by 18.0 cm by 12.0 cm). It is in very good condition, including rubbing, tiny chips and scratches. A superb example of a very distinctive style of  Chinese ceramic art, it would make a fine collector’s piece and is guaranteed authentic.

GJPaw Auctions has been in the Art business for over 25 years and is now expanding its operation to eBay.  Our goal is to bring the same experience and excitement of collecting that we have been delivering in-person to collectors across the globe at Primitive in Chicago.  Every object we sell online has been carefully hand-selected with special attention to detail, quality, and significance. We ship worldwide. Add GJPaw to Sellers you Follow and please take a moment to look at our other auction items.

 

A2200-074