Chinese qingbai ceramic washer showing five fish swimming in stylised waves, Southern Song dynasty.

Chinese qingbai ceramic washer showing a total of five fish (two in the well and three in the cavetto) swimming in stylised waves, 13th century, Southern Song dynasty, d. 14 cm, 5½ in; h. 2,8 cm, 1 in. 9-18168 Bespoke box. -

◆The rim is unglazed because this type of dishes was fired on their rims. Most of them had a metal band applied to the unglazed rim but few survive.

Qingbai ceramic wares were manufactured in Jingdezhen and other kilns since the 10th century. 

The Chinese word for “fish” is pronounced the same way as “abundance” and a pair of fish represents “marital bliss”. Amongst the fish the carp was revered due to its perseverance and strength for swimming upriver and was associated with success.

中國青白瓷筆洗，飾以五條魚（兩條在器內，三條在器壁）在水中游，12/13世紀，南宋，直徑14釐米，5½英吋；高2.8釐米，1英吋。

◆ 因為燒造時覆燒的緣故，這件筆洗口沿未施釉。這樣的器皿通常在口沿處加上金屬鑲邊，但存世數量屈指可數。

青白瓷從10世紀開始就在景德鎮及其他窯口有燒製。

中文里，“魚”音同“余”，雙魚更是被用作為新婚的祝福。魚類中，鯉魚因為鯉魚常在上游游動，被人認為象征著堅韌和力量，同時也和成功相關，所以鯉魚更被大眾接受和收到歡迎。