Antique Glazed Garden Stool, Coin/Taotie Designs, China (16777B-VCEM) $1275
$1,275.00
H: 19” W: 15” D: 14” | FOR SHIPPING INFORMATION CONTACT US AT 213-568-3030
Fashioned in a traditional drum/barrel shape, this unusual and ornately decorated antique garden stool is covered with auspicious symbols, and the positive energy from them is believed to be absorbed by the lucky individual who sits on them. Highlighted with pierced decorations and circular reliefs the upper borders of the body of this beautiful stoneware stool is covered with four bands of apple green, white, brown and cobalt blue – an expensive and infrequently used pigment. The bottom portion is covered in a mustard yellow glaze with pierced and relief images of double coins, tao tieh and florals.
Description
Most antique Chinese outdoor garden stools were made in a drum or barrel shape using common ceramic designs like decorative fretwork, low relief decoration, simple pierced schemes, a variety of underglaze painted images, and calligraphyand fired in kilns. The upper border of the body of this beautiful stoneware garden stool is covered with four color bands that beginning with a wide apple green band (the same color on its top) followed by a thin double pierced white one, a thin pierced brown one with circular reliefs around the piercings and last wider band of cut cobalt blue vertical lines in a relief pattern. Cobalt blue glaze has been a high regarded pigment due to the high costs of producing it. More than half the body is covered below in a mustard yellow glaze that has four auspicious double coin images outlined in cobalt blue with green, yellow and white pierced florals in relief as well as two Tao tieh masks in relief with pierced circular rings and a hole in their mouth perfectly aligned to go through the stool’s interior to the hole on the opposite side. A double intertwined coin design is one of the Chinese Eight Treasures (babao) and a popular and auspicious ornament. Coins are symbols of wealth, and since the the word for “eight” ba rhymes with fa meaning “to expand” this word association is a wish “to expand in wealth.” The taotie, one of China’s mythical animals is said to be an “ogre” and a stark warning to avoid gluttony, greed and desire. Below this mustard glaze is a thin cobalt blue band followed by a white one and finished with a thick cobalt blue ban that echo the color scheme above. There are many reproductions and contemporary garden stools but antiques like this in excellent condition have glaze drips, wear consistent with age and use and minimally faded colors but are often heavier and well-built with more ornate design details.
Click here for the blog The Ubiquitous and Charming Chinese Ceramic Stool.
Additional information
| Place of Origin | China |
|---|---|
| Date | Early 19th century |
| Period | Antique, Qing Dynasty |
| Materials and Technique | Stoneware |
| Dimensions (inches) | Ht: 19" W: 15" D: 14" |
| Dimensions (metric) | Ht: 48.26cm W: 38.1cm D: 35.56cm |
| Condition | |
| Reference Number | 16777B-VCEM |
| Weight | 23lbs 14oz |
| Shipping Box Size |
